Josephine vs Susan
Josephine 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 1960, Josephine was ranked #99 and Susan #1 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Josephine was ranked #256 and Susan #2440 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2003, Josephine was ranked #329 and Susan #570 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Josephine was ranked #355 and Susan #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Josephine was ranked #445 and Susan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Josephine and Susan over time
Josephine and Susan appear together in 4 published lists, across 133 years of shared records. Susan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Josephine in 1.
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 2 of those lists, Josephine 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Josephine and Susan changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1951 and 2003, ending at #329 and #570.
- Longest-running competitions
Josephine and Susan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #256 and #2440.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Josephine #168 in 1997, Susan #397 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #25 and #22 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2023 they were #445 and #856.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2023
Josephine held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Susan in 48.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #25 in 1964, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order changed in 2023: Josephine moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #661 and #661; by 2023 that had become #445 and #856.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Josephine #445, Susan #856.
Norway · Girls38 shared years, 1951–2003
Josephine held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Susan in 32.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #329 in 2003, Susan #172 in 1961.
The order changed in 1999: Josephine moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #513 and #481; by 1999 that had become #402 and #587.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Josephine #329, Susan #570.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Josephine held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #168 in 1997, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josephine #256, Susan #2440.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2017
Josephine held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Susan in 4.
Highest recorded here: Josephine #229 in 1998, Susan #187 in 1998.
The order changed in 2007: Josephine moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #377 and #226; by 2007 that had become #351 and #413.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Josephine #355, Susan #432.
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 | Josephine | 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 | 4 | 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 | Norway · Girls #241 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Josephine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Susan.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Josephine
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #367 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #256 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls