Linda vs Susan
Linda 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 1979, Linda was ranked #76 and Susan #50 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Linda was ranked #79 and Susan #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2003, Linda was ranked #168 and Susan #570 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Linda was ranked #301 and Susan #187 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Linda was ranked #517 and Susan #661 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Linda was ranked #1892 and Susan #2440 among girls in England and Wales.
Linda and Susan over time
Linda and Susan appear together in 5 published lists, across 196 years of shared records. Susan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Linda in 2.
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 5 of those lists, and Linda 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Linda moved into the top 50 at #42 in 1977 as Susan fell out of it to #51, having been #36 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1977, Linda moved ahead of Susan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #40 and #36 the year before became #42 and #51.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Linda and Susan changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1892 and #2440.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Linda and Susan averaged 13.4 places apart, ending at #79 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Linda and Susan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1892 and #2440.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Linda #638 in 1997, Susan #397 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls55 shared years, 1964–2021
Linda held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Susan in 21.
Highest recorded here: Linda #13 in 1973, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order changed in 2019: Linda moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #734 and #568; by 2019 that had become #421 and #621.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Linda #517, Susan #661.
Norway · Girls52 shared years, 1946–2003
Linda held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Susan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Linda #1 in 1975, Susan #172 in 1961.
The order changed in 1947: Linda moved ahead. In 1946 they stood at #266 and #239; by 1947 that had become #270 and #282.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Linda #168, Susan #570.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls34 shared years, 1952–1985
Linda held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Susan in 23.
Highest recorded here: Linda #12 in 1963, Susan #1 in 1954.
The order changed in 1977: Linda moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #40 and #36; by 1977 that had become #42 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Linda #79, Susan #96.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Linda held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Susan in 16.
Highest recorded here: Linda #638 in 1997, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order changed in 2018: Linda moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #1512 and #1512; by 2018 that had become #1526 and #3518.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Linda #1892, Susan #2440.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1954–1979
Linda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 25.
Highest recorded here: Linda #7 in 1957, Susan #1 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Linda #76, Susan #50.
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 | Linda | 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025) |
| 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
- Linda 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
Linda
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #329 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1975 (recorded 1945–2024).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1892 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