Namewise

Helen vs Susan

Helen 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, Helen was ranked #54 and Susan #86 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1982, Helen was ranked #84 and Susan #70 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2023, Helen was ranked #262 and Susan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2003, Helen was ranked #290 and Susan #570 among girls in Norway.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2011, Helen was ranked #311 and Susan #444 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Helen was ranked #705 and Susan #2440 among girls in England and Wales.

Helen and Susan over time

Helen and Susan appear together in 6 published lists, across 213 years of shared records. Helen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Susan in 2.

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.

Susan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Helen 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 1974, Helen moved ahead of Susan in New Zealand · Girls — #32 and #28 the year before became #34 and #44.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Helen and Susan changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2023, ending at #262 and #856.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Helen and Susan averaged 13.9 places apart, ending at #84 and #70.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Helen and Susan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #705 and #2440.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Helen #108 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1964 they stood at #13 and #22 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2023 they were #262 and #856.

List by list

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

    Helen held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Susan in 23.

    Highest recorded here: Helen #11 in 1966, Susan #14 in 1968.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Helen #262, Susan #856.

  • Norway · Girls52 shared years, 1946–2003

    Helen held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Susan in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Helen #93 in 1970, Susan #172 in 1961.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2003: Helen #290, Susan #570.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls31 shared years, 1952–1982

    Helen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 31.

    Highest recorded here: Helen #9 in 1952, Susan #1 in 1954.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1982: Helen #84, Susan #70.

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

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

    Highest recorded here: Helen #108 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Helen #705, Susan #2440.

  • New Zealand · Girls30 shared years, 1954–1984

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

    Highest recorded here: Helen #12 in 1958, Susan #1 in 1955.

    The order changed in 1974: Helen moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #32 and #28; by 1974 that had become #34 and #44.

    Most recent shared year, 1984: Helen #54, Susan #86.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1997–2011

    Helen held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Susan in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Helen #132 in 1999, Susan #187 in 1998.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2011: Helen #311, Susan #444.

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 Helen

Pairs where Helen 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 Helen, Susan
FieldHelenSusan
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningThe English form of Greek Helene. The meaning is genuinely debated among scholars — likely from Greek 'helene' ('torch'), though some suggest a connection to 'selene' ('moon'). In mythology, Helen's abduction by Paris sparked the Trojan War; the name's continued Christian use stems from Saint Helena.Not yet recorded
OriginGreek, meaning disputedNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈhɛl.ən/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesHelena, Helene, Ellen, ElenaNot 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 #381 (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 Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Helen has a recorded origin (Greek, meaning disputed); Susan does not have one recorded yet.
  • Helen and Susan both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Helen; Susan doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Helen a "high" Data Confidence level and Susan a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Helen

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #149 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 recorded1952–1982

    Highest recorded position: #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1982).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #705 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