Zuzu Girl

Popularity: #938 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ZOO-zoo //ˈzuːzuː//

Origin: Hebrew; English; African

Meaning: God is my strength (Hebrew); a pet form of names like Susan (English); flower (African)

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Zuzu has its roots in the Hebrew name "Zuzanna," which is derived from the Hebrew word "שושן" (shushan), meaning "lily." This name was later adapted into Greek as "Sousanna" and subsequently into Latin as "Susanna." The transition into English occurred through the Old French form "Suzanne," which was introduced into England during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. Over time, various diminutive forms emerged, including Zuzu, which is often considered an affectionate or playful variant of Suzanne.

Historically, the name Susanna is notable for its biblical connections, particularly in the Book of Daniel, where Susanna is a virtuous woman wrongfully accused of adultery. This story, which dates back to the 2nd century BCE, has been a significant moral tale in Jewish and Christian traditions, contributing to the name's enduring presence in religious contexts.

The name has also been borne by several saints, including Saint Susanna, a martyr in early Christianity, further solidifying its significance in ecclesiastical history. Culturally, the name Zuzu has been embraced in various artistic and literary works, often symbolizing innocence and purity, akin to the lily from which it derives its meaning.

The name gained additional resonance through its use in popular culture, notably in the film "It’s a Wonderful Life," where Zuzu is the name of a beloved character, representing hope and familial love. This association has contributed to the name's charm and appeal across generations, allowing it to maintain a place in the lexicon of names with historical and cultural weight.

Fictional characters named Zuzu

The following list of fictional characters named Zuzu 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.

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Zuzu is a fictional character from the film It's a Wonderful Life. She is the beloved daughter of George and Mary Bailey, known for her sweet innocence and iconic line about the petals of a flower.

Sibling suggestions

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

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Zuzu was first seen in the United States in 1999.

Zuzu has ranked as high as #10471 nationally, which occurred in 2015, and has been most popular in California.

In the past 5 years the name Zuzu has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Zuzu 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 Zuzu was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Zuzu.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 10 10
2024 15 15
2023 20 20
2022 19 19
2021 19 19
2020 11 11
2019 10 10
2018 16 16
2017 18 18
2016 16 16
2015 20 20
2014 18 18
2013 12 12
2012 11 11
2011 11 11
2010 12 12
2009 12 12
2008 15 15
2007 10 10
2006 5 5
2005 5 5
2004 9 9
2003 12 12
1999 5 5

Top States for Zuzu (2021)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 6
100%