Carol vs Susan
Carol 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1968, Carol was ranked #90 and Susan #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Carol was ranked #96 and Susan #17 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Carol was ranked #351 and Susan #187 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Carol was ranked #663 and Susan #293 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2021, Carol was ranked #3519 and Susan #1692 among girls in England and Wales.
Carol and Susan over time
Carol and Susan appear together in 4 published lists, across 104 years of shared records. Susan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Carol in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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.
- Longest-running competitions
Carol and Susan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 years, from 1964 to 2010, ending at #663 and #293.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Carol #802 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1964–2010
Carol held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Susan in 44.
Highest recorded here: Carol #34 in 1968, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Carol #663, Susan #293.
England and Wales · Girls24 shared years, 1996–2021
Carol held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 24.
Highest recorded here: Carol #802 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Carol #3519, Susan #1692.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1954–1971
Carol held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 18.
Highest recorded here: Carol #19 in 1957, Susan #1 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Carol #96, Susan #17.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1952–1968
Carol held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 17.
Highest recorded here: Carol #26 in 1952, Susan #1 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1968: Carol #90, Susan #8.
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 Carol
Pairs where Carol shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Sarah vs Carol
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2010 they were #5 and #663.
Sarah · Carol · 45 shared years, 1964–2010 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Carol
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2010 they were #13 and #663.
Anna · Carol · 45 shared years, 1964–2010 · Started together, ended far apart
- Carol vs Julia
In 1964 they stood at #36 and #42 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2010 they were #663 and #35.
Carol · Julia · 45 shared years, 1964–2010 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ellen vs Carol
In 1964 they stood at #27 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2010 they were #47 and #663.
Ellen · Carol · 45 shared years, 1964–2010 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Susan
Pairs where Susan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Susan vs Nora
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #95.
Susan · Nora · 57 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Susan vs Ellen
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #27 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #156.
Susan · Ellen · 57 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Susan vs Fiona
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #32 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #279.
Susan · Fiona · 57 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Susan vs Eileen
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #445.
Susan · Eileen · 57 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
Jason · Aaron · 39 shared years, 1966–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Ava vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Abigail #36 in 2008.
Ava · Abigail · 44 shared years, 1978–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
Charlotte · Abigail · 24 shared years, 2002–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Emma vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Emma · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists
Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Thomas vs Edward
Over 70 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Edward fell — from #44 and #48 in 1952 to #13 and #75 in 2025.
Thomas · Edward · 70 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alexander vs Edward
Over 67 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Edward fell — from #80 and #48 in 1952 to #22 and #75 in 2025.
Alexander · Edward · 67 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #44 and #51 in 1952 to #8 and #89 in 2016.
Thomas · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
- Andrew vs Alexander
Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #80 in 1952 to #89 and #9 in 2016.
Andrew · Alexander · 60 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1960s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1960 and 1969.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Carol | Susan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #2133 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Carol and Susan both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Carol
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #26 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1971
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1971).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2133 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls