Namewise

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 2025, Anne was ranked #1110 and Susan #2440 among girls in England and Wales.

Anne and Susan over time

Anne and Susan appear together in 6 published lists, across 191 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 2025, ending at #1110 and #2440.

  • 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 England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1110 and #2440.

  • 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 · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Anne held the stronger position in 26 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, 2025: Anne #1110, Susan #2440.

  • 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.

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 Anne

Pairs where Anne shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Susan

Pairs where Susan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.

All repeatedly exchanged positions→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Anne, Susan
FieldAnneSusan
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningThe 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
OriginHebrew, via French transmissionNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈɑː.nə/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesAnn, Ane, AnnaNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #159 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Susan

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1985

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1985).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls