Karl vs Leif
Karl and Leifcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Karl was ranked #179 and Leif #225 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Karl was ranked #1466 and Leif #1007 among boys in England and Wales.
Karl and Leif over time
Karl and Leif appear together in 2 published lists, across 108 years of shared records. Karl held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Leif in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1980, Karl moved ahead of Leif in Norway · Boys — #76 and #71 the year before became #65 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Karl and Leif were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #179 and #225.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Karl #33 in 1946, Leif #17 in 1945.
List by list
Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025
Karl held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Leif in 35.
Highest recorded here: Karl #33 in 1946, Leif #17 in 1945.
The order changed in 1980: Karl moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #76 and #71; by 1980 that had become #65 and #84.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karl #179, Leif #225.
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2025
Karl held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Leif in 4.
Highest recorded here: Karl #110 in 1996, Leif #814 in 2024.
The order changed in 2022: Leif moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #1184 and #1782; by 2022 that had become #1692 and #967.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karl #1466, Leif #1007.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Leif
Pairs where Leif shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Aksel vs Leif
Aksel and Leif were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #25 and #225.
Aksel · Leif · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Anders vs Leif
Anders and Leif were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #293 and #225.
Anders · Leif · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Andreas vs Leif
Andreas and Leif were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #225.
Andreas · Leif · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Arne vs Leif
Arne and Leif were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #222 and #225.
Arne · Leif · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Side by side
| Field | Karl | Leif |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'heir' or 'descendant'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Old Norse |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /leɪf/ (also /liːf/) |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Leiv |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #179 (2025) | Sweden #88 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Leif has a recorded origin (Old Norse); Karl does not have one recorded yet.
- Karl and Leif both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Leif; Karl doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
- The available evidence gives Karl a "medium" Data Confidence level and Leif a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Karl
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #35 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1962–1994
Highest recorded position: #33 among boys in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1962–1994).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1466 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Leif
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #17 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1007 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys