Anne vs Susan
Anne and Susancompared 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 · Girls
In 1972, Anne was ranked #91 and Susan #25 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1976, Anne was ranked #80 and Susan #36 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2003, Anne was ranked #55 and Susan #570 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Anne was ranked #370 and Susan #311 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Anne was ranked #316 and Susan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Susan #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Susan over time
Anne and Susan appear together in 6 published lists, across 190 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Susan in 1. 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
Anne and Susan changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1036 and #2253.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anne and Susan averaged 25.4 places apart, ending at #80 and #36.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Susan were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 52 years, from 1946 to 2003, ending at #55 and #570.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2023
Anne held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Susan in 10.
Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Anne #316, Susan #856.
Norway · Girls52 shared years, 1946–2003
Anne held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1946, Susan #172 in 1961.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Anne #55, Susan #570.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Susan in 4.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Anne moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #1117 and #1043; by 2012 that had become #955 and #1130.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Susan #2253.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1952–1976
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 25.
Highest recorded here: Anne #11 in 1954, Susan #1 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Anne #80, Susan #36.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1954–1972
Anne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 19.
Highest recorded here: Anne #13 in 1954, Susan #1 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1972: Anne #91, Susan #25.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1998–2008
Anne held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Susan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Anne #225 in 2003, Susan #187 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Anne #370, Susan #311.
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 | Anne | Susan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Anna, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' carrying the sense of grace or favour. Imported to England in the 13th century but not popular until three centuries later. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, via French transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑː.nə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Ann, Ane, Anna | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2253 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Anne has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Susan does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Susan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Susan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Susan a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Anne
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #1 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Susan
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #239 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1985
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1985).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2253 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls