Namewise

Claire vs Suzanne

Claire and Suzannecompared 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 1981, Claire was ranked #32 and Suzanne #90 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1982, Claire was ranked #55 and Suzanne #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2018, Claire was ranked #228 and Suzanne #734 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2015, Claire was ranked #312 and Suzanne #426 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Claire was ranked #1021 and Suzanne #3015 among girls in England and Wales.

Claire and Suzanne over time

Claire and Suzanne appear together in 4 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Claire held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Suzanne in 1.

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.

Suzanne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Claire 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.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1977, Claire moved ahead of Suzanne in New Zealand · Girls — #57 and #53 the year before became #46 and #71.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Claire and Suzanne averaged 46.4 places apart, ending at #32 and #90.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Claire and Suzanne were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 52 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #228 and #734.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Claire #90 in 1996, Suzanne #364 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1964 they stood at #75 and #67 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2018 they were #228 and #734.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls52 shared years, 19642018

    Claire held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Suzanne in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Claire #10 in 1984, Suzanne #42 in 1972.

    The order changed in 1973: Claire moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #49 and #42; by 1973 that had become #39 and #48.

    Most recent shared year, 2018: Claire #228, Suzanne #734.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Claire held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Suzanne in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Claire #90 in 1996, Suzanne #364 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Claire #1021, Suzanne #3015.

  • New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 19541981

    Claire held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Suzanne in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Claire #32 in 1981, Suzanne #22 in 1964.

    The order changed in 1977: Claire moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #57 and #53; by 1977 that had become #46 and #71.

    Most recent shared year, 1981: Claire #32, Suzanne #90.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 19972015

    Claire held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Suzanne in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Claire #26 in 1998, Suzanne #194 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2015: Claire #312, Suzanne #426.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Claire, Suzanne
FieldClaireSuzanne
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningThe French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'.Not yet recorded
OriginLatin, via French transmissionNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/klɛʁ/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesClaraNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #3015 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Claire has a recorded origin (Latin, via French transmission); Suzanne does not have one recorded yet.
  • Claire has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Suzanne.
  • A meaning is recorded for Claire; Suzanne doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Claire a "high" Data Confidence level and Suzanne a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Claire

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1954

    First recorded at #98 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1984 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Suzanne

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #25 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1982

    Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1982).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #3015 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Girls