Namewise

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 2025, Fiona was ranked #1362 and Susan #2440 among girls in England and Wales.

Fiona and Susan over time

Fiona and Susan appear together in 6 published lists, across 169 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 England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1362 and #2440.

  • 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.

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

    Fiona held the stronger position in 29 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, 2025: Fiona #1362, Susan #2440.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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 Fiona

Pairs where Fiona 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 — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Fiona, Susan
FieldFionaSusan
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningThe feminine form of Fionn. Popularized by Scottish poet James Macpherson in his 1761 poem Fingal, where it was spelled 'Fióna'.Not yet recorded
OriginScottish, feminine of FionnNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/fi.ˈoʊ.nə/
Syllables22
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 observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1362 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