Fiona vs Susan
Fiona 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 1985, Fiona was ranked #56 and Susan #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Fiona was ranked #88 and Susan #86 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Fiona was ranked #279 and Susan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Fiona was ranked #432 and Susan #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2003, Fiona was ranked #489 and Susan #570 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #1406 and Susan #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiona and Susan over time
Fiona and Susan appear together in 6 published lists, across 168 years of shared records. Fiona 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.
Susan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Fiona 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1970, Fiona moved ahead of Susan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #12 and #11 the year before became #14 and #17.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fiona and Susan changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1955 and 1984, ending at #88 and #86.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Fiona and Susan averaged 28.9 places apart, ending at #56 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Fiona and Susan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 30 years, from 1956 to 1985, ending at #56 and #96.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fiona #157 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #32 and #22 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #279 and #856.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2023
Fiona held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Susan in 4.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #4 in 1971, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order changed in 2023: Fiona moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #661 and #661; by 2023 that had become #279 and #856.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Fiona #279, Susan #856.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1956–1985
Fiona held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Susan in 14.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #12 in 1969, Susan #2 in 1956.
The order changed in 1970: Fiona moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #12 and #11; by 1970 that had become #14 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Fiona #56, Susan #96.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fiona held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fiona #1406, Susan #2253.
New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1955–1984
Fiona held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Susan in 16.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #14 in 1969, Susan #1 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Fiona #88, Susan #86.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2017
Fiona held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #66 in 1997, Susan #187 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Fiona #432, Susan #432.
Norway · Girls10 shared years, 1963–2003
Fiona held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Susan in 8.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #389 in 1963, Susan #219 in 1963.
The order changed in 1999: Fiona moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #523 and #363; by 1999 that had become #464 and #587.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Fiona #489, Susan #570.
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
| Field | Fiona | Susan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The feminine form of Fionn. Popularized by Scottish poet James Macpherson in his 1761 poem Fingal, where it was spelled 'Fióna'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish, feminine of Fionn | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /fi.ˈoʊ.nə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2253 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Fiona has a recorded origin (Scottish, feminine of Fionn); Susan does not have one recorded yet.
- Fiona and Susan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiona; 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
Fiona
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #87 among girls in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #399 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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