Karla vs Siobhán
Karla and Siobháncompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Karla was ranked #430 and Siobhán #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Karla was ranked #718 and Siobhán #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Karla was ranked #2115 and Siobhán #3015 among girls in England and Wales.
Karla and Siobhán over time
Karla and Siobhán appear together in 3 published lists, across 84 years of shared records. Siobhán held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Karla 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.
Siobhán reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Karla in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Karla and Siobhán changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2115 and #3015.
- Longest-running competitions
Karla and Siobhán were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 44 years, from 1972 to 2025, ending at #718 and #885.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Karla #433 in 1997, Siobhán #138 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls44 shared years, 1972–2025
Karla held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Siobhán in 42.
Highest recorded here: Karla #194 in 1999, Siobhán #21 in 1973.
The order changed in 2018: Karla moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #873 and #396; by 2018 that had become #734 and #896.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karla #718, Siobhán #885.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Karla held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Siobhán in 16.
Highest recorded here: Karla #433 in 1997, Siobhán #138 in 1996.
The order changed in 2018: Karla moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #2090 and #1817; by 2018 that had become #1649 and #4684.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Karla #2115, Siobhán #3015.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2010
Karla held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Siobhán in 5.
Highest recorded here: Karla #155 in 1998, Siobhán #133 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Karla #430, Siobhán #430.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Karla | Siobhán |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Shares the meaning of Joan/Jehanne: commonly interpreted as 'God is gracious'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ʃɪˈvɔːn/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Chevonne, Shivaun |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #266 (2025) | Republic of Ireland #90 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Siobhán has a recorded origin (Irish); Karla does not have one recorded yet.
- Karla has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Siobhán.
- A meaning is recorded for Siobhán; Karla doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Karla a "medium" Data Confidence level and Siobhán a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Karla
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #366 among girls in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #266 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Siobhán
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #35 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #90 in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland