Paula vs Suzanne
Paula and Suzannecompared 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 Suzanne #61 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1981, Paula was ranked #74 and Suzanne #90 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2003, Paula was ranked #185 and Suzanne #248 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2005, Paula was ranked #334 and Suzanne #441 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Paula was ranked #629 and Suzanne #734 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Paula was ranked #1491 and Suzanne #3015 among girls in England and Wales.
Paula and Suzanne over time
Paula and Suzanne appear together in 5 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Paula held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Suzanne in 1.
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.
Suzanne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Paula 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 1967, Paula moved ahead of Suzanne in New Zealand · Girls — #45 and #37 the year before became #34 and #40.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Paula and Suzanne changed places 12 times in Norway · Girls between 1955 and 2005, ending at #334 and #441.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Paula and Suzanne averaged 34.7 places apart, ending at #74 and #90.
- Longest-running competitions
Paula and Suzanne were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 36 years, from 1955 to 2005, ending at #334 and #441.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Paula #549 in 1996, Suzanne #364 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls52 shared years, 1964–2018
Paula held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Suzanne in 19.
Highest recorded here: Paula #15 in 1979, Suzanne #42 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Paula #629, Suzanne #734.
Norway · Girls36 shared years, 1955–2005
Paula held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Suzanne in 7.
Highest recorded here: Paula #251 in 1996, Suzanne #272 in 1986.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Paula #334, Suzanne #441.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Paula held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Suzanne in 7.
Highest recorded here: Paula #549 in 1996, Suzanne #364 in 1996.
The order changed in 2006: Paula moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #931 and #745; by 2006 that had become #976 and #1585.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Paula #1491, Suzanne #3015.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1954–1981
Paula held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Suzanne in 10.
Highest recorded here: Paula #15 in 1970, Suzanne #22 in 1964.
The order changed in 1967: Paula moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #45 and #37; by 1967 that had become #34 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Paula #74, Suzanne #90.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1952–1976
Paula held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Suzanne in 18.
Highest recorded here: Paula #62 in 1971, Suzanne #19 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Paula #98, Suzanne #61.
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 | Suzanne |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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 #3015 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Paula has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Suzanne.
- 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
Suzanne
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #25 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 recorded1952–1982
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1982).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3015 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls