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Susannah

♀ Girl

Pronounced soo-ZAN-uh /su.ˈzæn.ə/Medium

Meaning: LilyMedium

In 30 seconds: Susannah means 'lily' and traces back to the Bible. It is a graceful, classic name with a clear floral meaning.
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Origin MediumBiblical
MeaningLily
U.S. rank (2024)#2734 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births63 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1975
Total births (all-time)≈ 7,715

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197518822024

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

History & Origin

Rooted in biblical tradition, Susannah carries the meaning 'lily,' connecting it to one of the most enduring flowers in naming. It has many forms across languages, from the trimmer Susanna to the Arabic Sawsan and the Armenian Shushan and Syuzanna. Real bearers include the actress Susannah York and the supercentenarian Susannah Mushatt Jones.

The extra -ah ending gives Susannah a slightly softer, more old-fashioned feel than Susanna, while variants like Sawsan and Shushan preserve the same 'lily' meaning in other tongues.

Did you know? Susannah appears in the Old Testament, which helped preserve it across centuries of Jewish and Christian naming traditions.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Susannah — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

SuzanaSawsanShushanSusannaSyuzanna

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Susannah York (1939–2011)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Susannah Mushatt Jones (1899–2016)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Susannah…

Susanna— The trimmer form of the same biblical name and meaning.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Susannah mean?

Susannah is usually explained as meaning 'lily' and is most often linked with Biblical tradition.

How do you pronounce Susannah?

It's commonly said soo-ZAN-uh /su.ˈzæn.ə/.

Is Susannah a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Susannah is used as a girl name.

How popular is Susannah?

In 2024, Susannah ranked #2734 in the U.S. for girls, with 63 births recorded.