Rachel vs Susan
Rachel 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, Rachel was ranked #11 and Susan #86 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Rachel was ranked #22 and Susan #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Rachel was ranked #91 and Susan #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Rachel was ranked #148 and Susan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Rachel was ranked #394 and Susan #2440 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2003, Rachel was ranked #510 and Susan #570 among girls in Norway.
Rachel and Susan over time
Rachel and Susan appear together in 6 published lists, across 177 years of shared records. Rachel held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Susan in 0.
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 5 of those lists, and Rachel 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 1972, Rachel moved ahead of Susan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #29 and #25 the year before became #24 and #31.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Rachel and Susan changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1951 and 2003, ending at #510 and #570.
- Longest-running competitions
Rachel and Susan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #394 and #2440.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Rachel #27 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2023
Rachel held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Susan in 19.
Highest recorded here: Rachel #6 in 1997, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order changed in 1983: Rachel moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #40 and #27; by 1983 that had become #26 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Rachel #148, Susan #856.
Norway · Girls39 shared years, 1951–2003
Rachel held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Susan in 17.
Highest recorded here: Rachel #214 in 1973, Susan #172 in 1961.
The order changed in 1987: Rachel moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #283 and #261; by 1987 that had become #464 and #506.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Rachel #510, Susan #570.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Rachel held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Rachel #27 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Rachel #394, Susan #2440.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1965–1984
Rachel held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Susan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Rachel #3 in 1971, Susan #2 in 1965.
The order changed in 1970: Rachel moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #22 and #11; by 1970 that had become #4 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Rachel #11, Susan #86.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1968–1985
Rachel held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Susan in 4.
Highest recorded here: Rachel #12 in 1974, Susan #8 in 1968.
The order changed in 1972: Rachel moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #29 and #25; by 1972 that had become #24 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Rachel #22, Susan #96.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2017
Rachel held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Rachel #7 in 2003, Susan #187 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Rachel #91, 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 | Rachel | Susan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'ewe' (female sheep), the biblical wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈreɪtʃəl/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 #186 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025) |
| 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
- Rachel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel); Susan does not have one recorded yet.
- Rachel and Susan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Rachel; 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
Rachel
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1965–2006
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1965–2006).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #394 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