Janet vs Susan
Janet 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 1966, Janet was ranked #80 and Susan #4 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1965, Janet was ranked #82 and Susan #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1999, Janet was ranked #344 and Susan #227 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 1991, Janet was ranked #652 and Susan #332 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Janet was ranked #896 and Susan #568 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Janet was ranked #3318 and Susan #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Janet and Susan over time
Janet and Susan appear together in 5 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Susan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Janet in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Janet reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Susan in none. 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Janet and Susan changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #3318 and #2253.
- Longest-running competitions
Janet and Susan were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 37 years, from 1947 to 1991, ending at #652 and #332.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Janet #1031 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2018
Janet held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 43.
Highest recorded here: Janet #86 in 1966, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Janet #896, Susan #568.
Norway · Girls37 shared years, 1947–1991
Janet held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Susan in 33.
Highest recorded here: Janet #239 in 1958, Susan #172 in 1961.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Janet #652, Susan #332.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Janet held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Susan in 27.
Highest recorded here: Janet #1031 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Janet #3318, Susan #2253.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1952–1965
Janet held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 14.
Highest recorded here: Janet #36 in 1952, Susan #1 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Janet #82, Susan #6.
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1954–1966
Janet held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 13.
Highest recorded here: Janet #19 in 1954, Susan #1 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Janet #80, Susan #4.
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 | Janet | 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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (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
- Janet and Susan both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Janet
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #308 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1966
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1966).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 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