Pauline vs Susan
Pauline 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 1966, Pauline was ranked #86 and Susan #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1971, Pauline was ranked #86 and Susan #17 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2003, Pauline was ranked #368 and Susan #570 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Pauline was ranked #896 and Susan #568 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Pauline was ranked #4201 and Susan #2440 among girls in England and Wales.
Pauline and Susan over time
Pauline and Susan appear together in 5 published lists, across 130 years of shared records. Susan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Pauline 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, Pauline 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 1965, Susan moved ahead of Pauline in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #12 and #22 the year before became #24 and #18.
- Longest-running competitions
Pauline and Susan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #896 and #568.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Pauline #1076 in 1998, Susan #397 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #12 and #22 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2018 they were #896 and #568.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1964–2018
Pauline held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Susan in 44.
Highest recorded here: Pauline #12 in 1964, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order changed in 1965: Susan moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #12 and #22; by 1965 that had become #24 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Pauline #896, Susan #568.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2025
Pauline held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Susan in 27.
Highest recorded here: Pauline #1076 in 1998, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Pauline #4201, Susan #2440.
Norway · Girls24 shared years, 1946–2003
Pauline held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Susan in 15.
Highest recorded here: Pauline #242 in 1997, Susan #203 in 1966.
The order changed in 1993: Pauline moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #565 and #523; by 1993 that had become #462 and #548.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Pauline #368, Susan #570.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1954–1971
Pauline held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 18.
Highest recorded here: Pauline #31 in 1955, Susan #1 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Pauline #86, Susan #17.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1952–1966
Pauline held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 15.
Highest recorded here: Pauline #52 in 1954, Susan #1 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Pauline #86, Susan #8.
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 | Pauline | 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, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Pauline has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Susan.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Pauline
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #396 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls