Nicole vs Susan
Nicole 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Nicole was ranked #6 and Susan #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Nicole was ranked #33 and Susan #86 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Nicole was ranked #143 and Susan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2003, Nicole was ranked #205 and Susan #570 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Nicole was ranked #296 and Susan #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Nicole was ranked #328 and Susan #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Nicole and Susan over time
Nicole and Susan appear together in 6 published lists, across 169 years of shared records. Nicole held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Susan in 1.
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, and Nicole 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 Zealand · Girls, Nicole moved into the top 50 at #47 in 1980 as Susan fell out of it to #64, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1969, Nicole moved ahead of Susan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #13 and #8 the year before became #5 and #11.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Nicole and Susan averaged 44.7 places apart, ending at #6 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Nicole and Susan were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 32 years, from 1969 to 2003, ending at #205 and #570.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Nicole #36 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2023
Nicole held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Susan in 26.
Highest recorded here: Nicole #15 in 1996, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order changed in 1990: Nicole moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #77 and #52; by 1990 that had become #53 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Nicole #143, Susan #856.
Norway · Girls32 shared years, 1969–2003
Nicole held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Susan in 15.
Highest recorded here: Nicole #205 in 2003, Susan #214 in 1970.
The order changed in 1987: Nicole moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #375 and #261; by 1987 that had become #281 and #506.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Nicole #205, Susan #570.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Nicole held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nicole #36 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicole #328, Susan #2253.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1964–1985
Nicole held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Susan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Nicole #2 in 1975, Susan #4 in 1964.
The order changed in 1969: Nicole moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #13 and #8; by 1969 that had become #5 and #11.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Nicole #6, Susan #96.
New Zealand · Girls15 shared years, 1969–1984
Nicole held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Susan in 8.
Highest recorded here: Nicole #33 in 1977, Susan #11 in 1969.
The order changed in 1980: Nicole moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #54 and #50; by 1980 that had become #47 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Nicole #33, Susan #86.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2017
Nicole held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nicole #14 in 1998, Susan #187 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Nicole #296, 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 | Nicole | Susan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, via French transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /nɪ.ˈkoʊl/ | |
| 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 #381 (2025) | 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
- Nicole has a recorded origin (Greek, via French transmission); Susan does not have one recorded yet.
- Nicole has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Susan.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicole; 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
Nicole
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2002
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2002).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #448 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