Sally vs Susan
Sally 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, Sally was ranked #50 and Susan #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1979, Sally was ranked #99 and Susan #50 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Sally was ranked #262 and Susan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Sally was ranked #363 and Susan #444 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Sally was ranked #1743 and Susan #2253 among girls in England and Wales.
Sally and Susan over time
Sally and Susan appear together in 4 published lists, across 146 years of shared records. Susan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sally 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.
Susan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Sally 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls, Sally moved into the top 50 at #36 in 1977 as Susan fell out of it to #51, having been #36 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1977, Sally moved ahead of Susan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #37 and #36 the year before became #36 and #51.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Sally and Susan changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2023, ending at #262 and #856.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Sally and Susan averaged 49.9 places apart, ending at #50 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Sally and Susan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 34 years, from 1952 to 1985, ending at #50 and #96.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Sally #144 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2023
Sally held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Susan in 38.
Highest recorded here: Sally #153 in 1997, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order changed in 2011: Sally moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #333 and #293; by 2011 that had become #340 and #437.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Sally #262, Susan #856.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls34 shared years, 1952–1985
Sally held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Susan in 25.
Highest recorded here: Sally #36 in 1977, Susan #1 in 1954.
The order changed in 1977: Sally moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #37 and #36; by 1977 that had become #36 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Sally #50, Susan #96.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Sally held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Sally #144 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Sally #1743, Susan #2253.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1954–1979
Sally held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Susan in 26.
Highest recorded here: Sally #50 in 1959, Susan #1 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Sally #99, Susan #50.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Susan
Pairs where Susan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Susan vs Nora
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #95.
Susan · Nora · 57 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Susan vs Ellen
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #27 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #156.
Susan · Ellen · 57 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Susan vs Fiona
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #32 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #279.
Susan · Fiona · 57 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Susan vs Eileen
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #445.
Susan · Eileen · 57 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Sally | 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #239 (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
- Sally 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
Sally
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #93 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 recorded1952–1993
Highest recorded position: #36 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1977 (recorded 1952–1993).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #239 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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