Jennifer vs Susan
Jennifer 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, Jennifer was ranked #18 and Susan #86 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Jennifer was ranked #19 and Susan #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Jennifer was ranked #224 and Susan #444 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2003, Jennifer was ranked #251 and Susan #570 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Jennifer was ranked #316 and Susan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jennifer was ranked #483 and Susan #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Jennifer and Susan over time
Jennifer and Susan appear together in 6 published lists, across 200 years of shared records. Jennifer held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Susan in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 4 of those lists, Jennifer 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 1964, Jennifer moved ahead of Susan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #3 and #2 the year before became #2 and #4.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jennifer and Susan changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2003, ending at #251 and #570.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Jennifer and Susan averaged 19.9 places apart, ending at #19 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Jennifer and Susan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 34 years, from 1952 to 1985, ending at #19 and #96.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jennifer #54 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2023
Jennifer held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Susan in 9.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #4 in 1981, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order changed in 1975: Jennifer moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #20 and #18; by 1975 that had become #13 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Jennifer #316, Susan #856.
Norway · Girls37 shared years, 1946–2003
Jennifer held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Susan in 12.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #187 in 2000, Susan #196 in 1964.
The order changed in 1979: Jennifer moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #263 and #255; by 1979 that had become #247 and #259.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Jennifer #251, Susan #570.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls34 shared years, 1952–1985
Jennifer held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Susan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #1 in 1956, Susan #1 in 1954.
The order changed in 1964: Jennifer moved ahead. In 1963 they stood at #3 and #2; by 1964 that had become #2 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Jennifer #19, Susan #96.
New Zealand · Girls30 shared years, 1954–1984
Jennifer held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Susan in 20.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #4 in 1957, Susan #1 in 1955.
The order changed in 1974: Jennifer moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #31 and #28; by 1974 that had become #35 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Jennifer #18, Susan #86.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jennifer held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #54 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jennifer #483, Susan #2253.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1997–2011
Jennifer held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Susan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Jennifer #55 in 1997, Susan #187 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Jennifer #224, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Jennifer | Susan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Welsh, via Cornish transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɪ.fəɹ/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 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 #413 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2253 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jennifer has a recorded origin (Welsh, via Cornish transmission); Susan does not have one recorded yet.
- Jennifer has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Susan.
- A meaning is recorded for Jennifer; 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
Jennifer
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #331 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1956 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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