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Home › Baby Names Directory › Susan

Susan

♀ Girl

Pronounced SOO-zun /ˈsuː.zən/High

Meaning: Lily; from Hebrew Shoshannah (lily, rose), via Greek Sousanna and Latin SusannaHigh

In 30 seconds: An English form of Susanna meaning 'lily,' from Hebrew Shoshannah. A top-5 U.S. name from the 1940s through the 1960s, Susan defined a generation and is now gently reviving as grandma-chic.
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Origin HighHebrew, English
MeaningLily; from Hebrew Shoshannah (lily, rose), via Greek Sousanna and Latin Susanna
U.S. rank (2025)#1091 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births222 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1955
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,123,454

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195518802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Susan is the English form of Susanna/Susannah, from Hebrew Shoshannah (lily or rose). The name appears in the apocryphal Book of Susanna (part of the Greek Daniel) as the name of a virtuous woman falsely accused. It entered English via Latin.

Susan was a popular U.S. name in 1947 and stayed in the top 10 until the late 1960s. It declined sharply from the 1970s and now sits at #1136 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Susan was one of the most popular girls' names in the United States in 1947 — at the peak of the post-WWII baby boom — and remained in the top 10 for over two decades, making it one of the most statistically dominant baby names in American history.
Overall data confidence 94%
Behind the Name — Susan — Hebrew etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data including 1947 #1 rank

Variations

SusannaSusannahSuzanneSuzan

Nicknames

SueSuzieSusy

Famous Bearers

  • ★Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)
    American social reformer and women's rights activist who played a pivotal role in the women's suffrage movement. Her image appeared on the U.S. dollar coin.

If you like Susan…

Susanna— the fuller form from which Susan derives
Barbara— top-tier mid-century name from the same 1940s–50s peak era
Patricia— another mid-century top-10 name from the same generation
Linda— mid-century name that matched Susan in popularity
Donna— mid-century American classic from the same era

Explore names like Susan

By themeenglishhebrewclassicvintagemid-century
By meaningFlowerRose

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Susan mean?

Susan means 'lily,' from Hebrew Shoshannah (lily or rose) via Susanna/Susannah.

How do you pronounce Susan?

It's said SOO-zun — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Susan a boy or girl name?

Susan is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Susan?

Susan ranked #1136 for U.S. girls in 2024. It was a popular U.S. girls' name in 1947.

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