Michelle vs Susan
Michelle 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, Michelle was ranked #12 and Susan #86 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Michelle was ranked #15 and Susan #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2003, Michelle was ranked #84 and Susan #570 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Michelle was ranked #277 and Susan #444 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Michelle was ranked #316 and Susan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Michelle was ranked #360 and Susan #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Michelle and Susan over time
Michelle and Susan appear together in 6 published lists, across 194 years of shared records. Michelle 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 5 of those lists, and Michelle 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1965, Michelle moved ahead of Susan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #6 and #4 the year before became #3 and #6.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Michelle and Susan averaged 37.6 places apart, ending at #15 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Michelle and Susan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 34 years, from 1952 to 1985, ending at #15 and #96.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Michelle #153 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2023
Michelle held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Susan in 6.
Highest recorded here: Michelle #2 in 1978, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order changed in 1970: Michelle moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #21 and #17; by 1970 that had become #18 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Michelle #316, Susan #856.
Norway · Girls35 shared years, 1966–2003
Michelle held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Susan in 11.
Highest recorded here: Michelle #84 in 2003, Susan #203 in 1966.
The order changed in 1978: Michelle moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #283 and #260; by 1978 that had become #242 and #255.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Michelle #84, Susan #570.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls34 shared years, 1952–1985
Michelle held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Susan in 13.
Highest recorded here: Michelle #1 in 1967, Susan #1 in 1954.
The order changed in 1965: Michelle moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #6 and #4; by 1965 that had become #3 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Michelle #15, Susan #96.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Michelle held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Michelle #153 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Michelle #360, Susan #2253.
New Zealand · Girls27 shared years, 1957–1984
Michelle held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Susan in 9.
Highest recorded here: Michelle #1 in 1966, Susan #1 in 1958.
The order changed in 1966: Michelle moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #4 and #2; by 1966 that had become #1 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Michelle #12, Susan #86.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2011
Michelle held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Susan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Michelle #111 in 2000, Susan #187 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Michelle #277, 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 | Michelle | 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 | 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 #304 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2253 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Michelle has 3 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
Michelle
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2000
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1967 (recorded 1952–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #329 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