Lisa vs Susan
Lisa 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, Lisa was ranked #6 and Susan #86 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Lisa was ranked #10 and Susan #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2003, Lisa was ranked #58 and Susan #570 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Lisa was ranked #316 and Susan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Lisa was ranked #363 and Susan #444 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Lisa was ranked #795 and Susan #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Lisa and Susan over time
Lisa and Susan appear together in 6 published lists, across 199 years of shared records. Lisa held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Susan in 0.
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, Lisa 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 1966, Lisa moved ahead of Susan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #9 and #6 the year before became #4 and #8.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lisa and Susan changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2003, ending at #58 and #570.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Lisa and Susan averaged 36.0 places apart, ending at #10 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Lisa and Susan were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 51 years, from 1946 to 2003, ending at #58 and #570.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Lisa #105 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2023
Lisa held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Susan in 9.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #3 in 1984, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order changed in 1973: Lisa moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #25 and #21; by 1973 that had become #20 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Lisa #316, Susan #856.
Norway · Girls51 shared years, 1946–2003
Lisa held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Susan in 9.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #37 in 1994, Susan #172 in 1961.
The order changed in 1963: Lisa moved ahead. In 1962 they stood at #233 and #212; by 1963 that had become #184 and #219.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Lisa #58, Susan #570.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lisa held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #105 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lisa #795, Susan #2253.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1959–1985
Lisa held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Susan in 7.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #2 in 1968, Susan #2 in 1959.
The order changed in 1966: Lisa moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #9 and #6; by 1966 that had become #4 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Lisa #10, Susan #96.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1962–1984
Lisa held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Susan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #1 in 1968, Susan #1 in 1962.
The order changed in 1967: Lisa moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #7 and #4; by 1967 that had become #2 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Lisa #6, Susan #86.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1997–2011
Lisa held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #63 in 1997, Susan #187 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Lisa #363, 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 | Lisa | Susan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A short form of Elizabeth, often used independently — notably the name of the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliː.sə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 #174 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2253 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lisa has a recorded origin (Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth); Susan does not have one recorded yet.
- Lisa and Susan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lisa; 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
Lisa
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #330 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1962–1997
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1962–1997).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #174 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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