Diane vs Susan
Diane 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 1970, Diane was ranked #100 and Susan #17 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1973, Diane was ranked #82 and Susan #28 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Diane was ranked #229 and Susan #187 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Diane was ranked #727 and Susan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Diane was ranked #2411 and Susan #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Diane and Susan over time
Diane and Susan appear together in 4 published lists, across 116 years of shared records. Susan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Diane in 0.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Diane and Susan averaged 33.1 places apart, ending at #82 and #28.
- Longest-running competitions
Diane and Susan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 48 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #727 and #856.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Diane #983 in 1997, Susan #397 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1964–2023
Diane held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Susan in 46.
Highest recorded here: Diane #126 in 1983, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order changed in 2023: Diane moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #752 and #584; by 2023 that had become #727 and #856.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Diane #727, Susan #856.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Diane held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Susan in 26.
Highest recorded here: Diane #983 in 1997, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Diane #2411, Susan #2253.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1954–1973
Diane held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 20.
Highest recorded here: Diane #16 in 1954, Susan #1 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Diane #82, Susan #28.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1952–1970
Diane held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 19.
Highest recorded here: Diane #17 in 1953, Susan #1 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Diane #100, Susan #17.
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 Diane
Pairs where Diane shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Christine vs Diane
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Christine #1 in 1952, Diane #17 in 1953.
Christine · Diane · 19 shared years, 1952–1970 · Peaked in the same years
- Heather vs Diane
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Heather and Diane averaged 6.5 places apart, ending at #77 and #82.
Heather · Diane · 20 shared years, 1954–1973 · Closest over the longest run
- Lisa vs Diane
In 1966, Lisa moved ahead of Diane in New Zealand · Girls — #31 and #30 the year before became #7 and #32.
Lisa · Diane · 12 shared years, 1962–1973 · One moved ahead of the other
- Patricia vs Diane
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Patricia and Diane averaged 8.6 places apart, ending at #73 and #82.
Patricia · Diane · 20 shared years, 1954–1973 · Closest over the longest run
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
- William vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, William rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #12 and #51 in 1952 to #2 and #89 in 2016.
William · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1970s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1970 and 1979.
- 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 | Diane | 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 | ||
| 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 · Girls #2411 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #2253 (2024) |
| 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
- Diane 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
Diane
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #21 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 recorded1954–1973
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1973).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2411 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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