Karl vs Murray
Karl and Murraycompared 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1973, Karl was ranked #33 and Murray #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Karl was ranked #398 and Murray #398 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Karl was ranked #829 and Murray #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Karl was ranked #2088 and Murray #1282 among boys in England and Wales.
Karl and Murray over time
Karl and Murray appear together in 2 published lists, across 41 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Karl moved into the top 50 at #47 in 1969 as Murray fell out of it to #59, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1969, Karl moved ahead of Murray in New Zealand · Boys — #74 and #50 the year before became #47 and #59.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Karl and Murray changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2088 and #1282.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Karl #110 in 1996, Murray #471 in 1997.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Karl held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Murray in 2.
Highest recorded here: Karl #110 in 1996, Murray #471 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Murray moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1407 and #2007; by 2024 that had become #2088 and #1282.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Karl #2088, Murray #1282.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1962–1973
Karl held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Murray in 7.
Highest recorded here: Karl #33 in 1973, Murray #25 in 1963.
The order changed in 1969: Karl moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #74 and #50; by 1969 that had become #47 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Karl #33, Murray #100.
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 Murray
Pairs where Murray shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- David vs Murray
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — David #1 in 1961, Murray #70 in 1963.
David · Murray · 15 shared years, 1957–1971 · Peaked in the same years
- John vs Murray
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — John #1 in 1954, Murray #16 in 1955.
John · Murray · 20 shared years, 1954–1973 · Peaked in the same years
- Murray vs Graeme
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Murray and Graeme averaged 4.0 places apart, ending at #100 and #91.
Murray · Graeme · 20 shared years, 1954–1973 · Closest over the longest run
- Alan vs Murray
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alan and Murray averaged 4.5 places apart, ending at #93 and #100.
Alan · Murray · 20 shared years, 1954–1973 · Closest over the longest run
Side by side
| Field | Karl | Murray |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Originally a Scottish surname/place-name derived from the region of Moray; traditionally glossed as relating to 'seashore' or 'coastal land', though the exact pre-Gaelic (possibly Pictish) root is uncertain. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish Gaelic, from the place name Moray (possibly of Pictish origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmɜri/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #179 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Murray has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic, from the place name Moray (possibly of Pictish origin)); Karl does not have one recorded yet.
- Karl has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Murray.
- A meaning is recorded for Murray; Karl doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
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 #179 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Murray
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #17 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1973
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1973).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys