Namewise

Elizabeth vs Susan

Elizabeth 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 1984, Elizabeth was ranked #14 and Susan #86 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1985, Elizabeth was ranked #17 and Susan #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Elizabeth was ranked #74 and Susan #2440 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2023, Elizabeth was ranked #106 and Susan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2017, Elizabeth was ranked #110 and Susan #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2003, Elizabeth was ranked #416 and Susan #570 among girls in Norway.

Elizabeth and Susan over time

Elizabeth and Susan appear together in 6 published lists, across 217 years of shared records. Elizabeth held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Susan in 2.

The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Elizabeth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Susan in 2. 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 1971, Elizabeth moved ahead of Susan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #19 and #17 the year before became #20 and #25.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Elizabeth and Susan changed places 15 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2003, ending at #416 and #570.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Elizabeth and Susan averaged 21.7 places apart, ending at #17 and #96.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Elizabeth and Susan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #74 and #2440.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Elizabeth #26 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2023

    Elizabeth held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Susan in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #5 in 1969, Susan #14 in 1968.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Elizabeth #106, Susan #856.

  • Norway · Girls52 shared years, 1946–2003

    Elizabeth held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Susan in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #154 in 1968, Susan #172 in 1961.

    The order changed in 1997: Elizabeth moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #479 and #363; by 1997 that had become #426 and #481.

    Most recent shared year, 2003: Elizabeth #416, Susan #570.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls34 shared years, 1952–1985

    Elizabeth held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Susan in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #10 in 1952, Susan #1 in 1954.

    The order changed in 1971: Elizabeth moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #19 and #17; by 1971 that had become #20 and #25.

    Most recent shared year, 1985: Elizabeth #17, Susan #96.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Elizabeth held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Susan in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #26 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Elizabeth #74, Susan #2440.

  • New Zealand · Girls30 shared years, 1954–1984

    Elizabeth held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Susan in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #7 in 1954, Susan #1 in 1955.

    The order changed in 1974: Elizabeth moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #33 and #28; by 1974 that had become #27 and #44.

    Most recent shared year, 1984: Elizabeth #14, Susan #86.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2017

    Elizabeth held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Susan in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Elizabeth #55 in 1997, Susan #187 in 1998.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2017: Elizabeth #110, Susan #432.

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 Elizabeth

Pairs where Elizabeth 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 — peaked in the same years.

All 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.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1980s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1980 and 1989.

The 1980s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Elizabeth, Susan
FieldElizabethSusan
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningFrom the Greek Elisabet, from Hebrew Elisheva, combining 'el' (God) with 'shava' ('oath') — 'my God is an oath'. Appears in the Old Testament as Elisheba, Aaron's wife, and in the New Testament as the mother of John the Baptist.Not yet recorded
OriginBiblical HebrewNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ɪ.ˈlɪz.ə.bəθ/
Syllables42
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot 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 observationEngland and Wales · Girls #74 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)65/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)70/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Elizabeth has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Susan does not have one recorded yet.
  • Elizabeth has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Susan.
  • A meaning is recorded for Elizabeth; Susan doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Elizabeth

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #341 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 recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #74 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