Nicola vs Susan
Nicola 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, Nicola was ranked #9 and Susan #86 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Nicola was ranked #180 and Susan #444 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Nicola was ranked #551 and Susan #621 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Nicola was ranked #2253 and Susan #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Nicola and Susan over time
Nicola and Susan appear together in 4 published lists, across 124 years of shared records. Nicola held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Susan in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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, Nicola 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 1968, Nicola moved ahead of Susan in New Zealand · Girls — #10 and #5 the year before became #7 and #11.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Nicola and Susan averaged 37.9 places apart, ending at #9 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Nicola and Susan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 55 years, from 1964 to 2019, ending at #551 and #621.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Nicola #87 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls55 shared years, 1964–2019
Nicola held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Susan in 14.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #17 in 1986, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order changed in 1978: Nicola moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #25 and #19; by 1978 that had become #23 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Nicola #551, Susan #621.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Nicola held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Susan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #87 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicola #2253, Susan #2253.
New Zealand · Girls27 shared years, 1957–1984
Nicola held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Susan in 11.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #2 in 1975, Susan #1 in 1958.
The order changed in 1968: Nicola moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #10 and #5; by 1968 that had become #7 and #11.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Nicola #9, Susan #86.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1997–2011
Nicola held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Susan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #72 in 1997, Susan #187 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Nicola #180, 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 | Nicola | Susan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, feminine form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #2253 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicola has a recorded origin (Greek, feminine form); Susan does not have one recorded yet.
- Nicola has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Susan.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicola; Susan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Nicola
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #97 among girls in New Zealand in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1996
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1957–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2253 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2253 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls