Paula vs Susan
Paula 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 1976, Paula was ranked #98 and Susan #36 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Paula was ranked #93 and Susan #86 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2003, Paula was ranked #285 and Susan #570 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Paula was ranked #432 and Susan #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Paula was ranked #727 and Susan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Paula was ranked #1491 and Susan #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Paula and Susan over time
Paula and Susan appear together in 6 published lists, across 191 years of shared records. Susan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Paula in 2.
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 3 of those lists, Paula in 2. 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Paula and Susan changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1491 and #2253.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Paula and Susan averaged 34.6 places apart, ending at #93 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Paula and Susan were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 51 years, from 1946 to 2003, ending at #285 and #570.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Paula #549 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2023
Paula held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Susan in 45.
Highest recorded here: Paula #15 in 1979, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Paula #727, Susan #856.
Norway · Girls51 shared years, 1946–2003
Paula held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Susan in 31.
Highest recorded here: Paula #249 in 1956, Susan #172 in 1961.
The order changed in 1992: Paula moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #345 and #332; by 1992 that had become #417 and #523.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Paula #285, Susan #570.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Paula held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Susan in 13.
Highest recorded here: Paula #549 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Paula moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #2504 and #2504; by 2024 that had become #1491 and #2253.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Paula #1491, Susan #2253.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1954–1984
Paula held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Susan in 17.
Highest recorded here: Paula #15 in 1970, Susan #1 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Paula #93, Susan #86.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1952–1976
Paula held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 18.
Highest recorded here: Paula #62 in 1971, Susan #1 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Paula #98, Susan #36.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2017
Paula held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Susan in 3.
Highest recorded here: Paula #172 in 1997, Susan #187 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Paula #432, 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 | Paula | 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 | 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 | Norway · Girls #521 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2253 (2024) |
| 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
- Paula 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
Paula
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #264 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1984
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1970 (recorded 1954–1984).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #521 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