Susan Girl

Popularity: #737 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SOO-zan //ˈsuː.zən//

Origin: Hebrew; English

Meaning: Hebrew: lily; English: a variant of Susanna

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Susan has its roots in the Hebrew name Shoshannah, which means "lily" or "rose." This name was adopted into Greek as Sousanna and later into Latin as Susanna. The transition into Old French occurred during the medieval period, where it became Susanne, before finally entering the English language as Susan in the late Middle Ages.

The name's floral connotation has contributed to its enduring appeal, symbolizing beauty and purity. Historically, the name Susan is notably associated with biblical texts, particularly in the Book of Daniel, where Susanna is a virtuous woman who is wrongfully accused.

This story has been a significant part of Jewish and Christian traditions, often highlighted in religious teachings and art. The name gained further prominence in the Christian context through various saints named Susanna, particularly in the early centuries of the church, which helped solidify its place in Christian nomenclature.

Culturally, Susan has been embraced in various literary and artistic works, reinforcing its significance across different eras. The name has been used in notable literature, including works from the Renaissance to modern times, often embodying themes of virtue and resilience.

Additionally, diminutive forms such as Sue and Suzy have emerged, reflecting the name's adaptability and affection in familial and social contexts. Overall, Susan's historical and cultural resonance is deeply rooted in its etymological origins and the narratives that have surrounded it through centuries.

Famous people named Susan

In this section, you will find notable people named Susan. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Susan who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Susan who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Susan Sarandon is an actress best known for Thelma & Louise, Dead Man Walking, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Susan Boyle is a singer best known for her appearance on Britain's Got Talent and her debut album I Dreamed a Dream.

Susan Collins is a journalist best known for her work with NPR and as a correspondent for PBS NewsHour.

Susan B. Anthony was a social reformer best known for her role in the women's suffrage movement.

Susan Lucci is an actress best known for her role on All My Children and her appearances on various talk shows.

Susan Rice is a diplomat best known for her role as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and National Security Advisor.

Susan Orlean is a journalist and author best known for The Orchid Thief and Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend.

Fictional characters named Susan

The following list of fictional characters named Susan is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Susan Pevensie is a fictional character from the book series The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. She is one of the four Pevensie siblings who help to defeat the White Witch and restore peace to Narnia.

Susan Storm is a fictional character from the Marvel Comics universe. She is a founding member of the Fantastic Four and possesses the ability to become invisible and create force fields.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Susan, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Susan. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Susan was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Susan has ranked as high as #12 nationally, which occurred in 1955, and has been most popular in New York, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Ohio.

In the past 5 years the name Susan has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Susan is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Susan was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Susan (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
PA 30
20%
OH 16
11%
NY 16
11%
TX 15
10%
CA 12
8%
IN 11
7%
MD 9
6%
MN 7
5%
CO 6
4%
FL 6
4%
TN 6
4%
UT 5
3%
VA 5
3%
NC 5
3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Susan.

YearBirths
2024213
2023223
2022211
2021226
2020262
2019244
2018235
2017276
2016306
2015300
2014327
2013319
2012328
2011356
2010356
2009379
2008431
2007467
2006495
2005487
2004531
2003576
2002615
2001638
2000693
1999707
1998758
1997807
1996963
1995894
19941,025
19931,200
19921,373
19911,479
19901,687
19891,800
19882,060
19872,247
19862,389
19852,661
19843,116
19833,357
19823,969
19814,244
19804,704
19795,196
19785,418
19775,960
19766,403
19757,487
19748,471
19739,279
197210,574
197113,783
197015,739
196917,805
196819,504
196722,262
196623,775
196526,322
196431,515
196333,990
196235,750
196137,530
196039,208
195941,616
195845,172
195745,952
195646,562
195547,419
195447,162
195344,297
195241,348
195140,228
195038,017
194937,709
194835,988
194731,951
194628,268
194519,221
194416,330
194314,888
194212,015
19418,888
19406,756
19394,887
19383,555
19372,641
19362,153
19351,801
19341,492
19331,264
19321,227
19311,005
19301,003
1929874
1928812
1927868
1926858
1925862
1924832
1923811
1922795
1921846
1920850
1919824
1918912
1917837
1916844
1915817
1914661
1913543
1912522
1911459
1910395
1909380
1908350
1907355
1906326
1905320
1904324
1903305
1902335
1901342
1900410
1899350
1898382
1897341
1896343
1895393
1894357
1893356
1892366
1891370
1890354
1889356
1888363
1887335
1886323
1885302
1884326
1883322
1882326
1881292
1880286