Fun Facts About the Name Susan
- A favorite of earlier generations: Susan appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 3 separate runs, totaling 55 years. Its last run lasted 48 consecutive years, from 1937 through 1984.
- More than 1 million babies named Susan: U.S. records list 1,125,996 babies given the name Susan from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,542 boys received the name Susan - about 1 boy for every 442 girls.
What Does the Name Susan Mean?
Susan is the English short form of Susanna, which comes from the Hebrew Shoshannah (שׁוֹשַׁנָּה), commonly translated as "lily." The Hebrew word appears in the Song of Songs and in other biblical passages, where it refers to a lily or a similar flower; the exact plant is not certain, and some scholars connect the Hebrew term to an Egyptian word for the lotus. The name reached Greek as Sousanna and Latin as Susanna, and the sense "lily" came with it. A looser rendering as "rose" appears in some older word lists, but "lily" follows the usual derivation.
Susan Name History & Origins
The name spread through Europe mainly by way of the Bible. In the Greek and Latin versions of the book of Daniel, Susanna is a woman falsely accused and saved by the prophet Daniel; her story belongs to the deuterocanonical Additions to Daniel. The Gospel of Luke names another Susanna among the women who followed Jesus and supported his ministry. Both figures helped carry the name into Christian use, and it appears in Greek, Latin, and medieval European records in forms such as Sousanna and Susanna.
In England, Susanna and Susan were in use by the later Middle Ages, and the shorter form Susan became common in the 16th and 17th centuries, when biblical names were widely favored. The name also took distinct shapes in other languages: French Suzanne, Italian Susanna, Spanish Susana, German Susanne, Polish Zuzanna, and Russian Susanna (Сусанна). The familiar short forms Sue, Susie, and Sukie come from English usage.
How Popular is the Name Susan?
Susan has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 55 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1937 to 1984.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,091 | 222 | 0.0138% |
| 2024 | #1,136 | 213 | 0.0132% |
| 2023 | #1,104 | 223 | 0.0139% |
| 2022 | #1,156 | 211 | 0.0129% |
| 2021 | #1,097 | 226 | 0.0138% |
| 2020 | #975 | 262 | 0.0162% |
| 2019 | #1,052 | 244 | 0.0145% |
| 2018 | #1,082 | 235 | 0.0138% |
| 2017 | #963 | 276 | 0.0160% |
| 2016 | #909 | 306 | 0.0173% |
| 2015 | #919 | 300 | 0.0168% |
| 2014 | #847 | 327 | 0.0183% |
| 2013 | #834 | 319 | 0.0182% |
| 2012 | #822 | 328 | 0.0186% |
| 2011 | #767 | 356 | 0.0202% |
| 2010 | #772 | 356 | 0.0200% |
| 2009 | #750 | 379 | 0.0206% |
| 2008 | #700 | 431 | 0.0228% |
| 2007 | #637 | 467 | 0.0243% |
| 2006 | #591 | 495 | 0.0260% |
| 2005 | #586 | 487 | 0.0264% |
| 2004 | #537 | 531 | 0.0289% |
| 2003 | #498 | 576 | 0.0315% |
| 2002 | #464 | 615 | 0.0342% |
| 2001 | #437 | 638 | 0.0354% |
| 2000 | #409 | 693 | 0.0382% |
| 1999 | #395 | 707 | 0.0399% |
| 1998 | #374 | 758 | 0.0429% |
| 1997 | #347 | 807 | 0.0464% |
| 1996 | #298 | 963 | 0.0549% |
| 1995 | #312 | 894 | 0.0508% |
| 1994 | #274 | 1,025 | 0.0574% |
| 1993 | #233 | 1,200 | 0.0663% |
| 1992 | #206 | 1,373 | 0.0745% |
| 1991 | #203 | 1,479 | 0.0789% |
| 1990 | #172 | 1,687 | 0.0889% |
| 1989 | #161 | 1,800 | 0.0976% |
| 1988 | #140 | 2,060 | 0.1157% |
| 1987 | #125 | 2,247 | 0.1292% |
| 1986 | #118 | 2,389 | 0.1393% |
| 1985 | #106 | 2,661 | 0.1546% |
| 1984 | #90 | 3,116 | 0.1851% |
| 1983 | #86 | 3,357 | 0.2009% |
| 1982 | #76 | 3,969 | 0.2344% |
| 1981 | #71 | 4,244 | 0.2544% |
| 1980 | #63 | 4,704 | 0.2833% |
| 1979 | #51 | 5,196 | 0.3237% |
| 1978 | #49 | 5,418 | 0.3537% |
| 1977 | #45 | 5,960 | 0.3887% |
| 1976 | #40 | 6,403 | 0.4370% |
| 1975 | #32 | 7,487 | 0.5135% |
| 1974 | #27 | 8,471 | 0.5772% |
| 1973 | #25 | 9,279 | 0.6363% |
| 1972 | #24 | 10,574 | 0.6951% |
| 1971 | #17 | 13,783 | 0.8284% |
| 1970 | #15 | 15,739 | 0.9003% |
| 1969 | #11 | 17,805 | 1.0554% |
| 1968 | #10 | 19,504 | 1.1890% |
| 1967 | #5 | 22,262 | 1.3484% |
| 1966 | #6 | 23,775 | 1.4050% |
| 1965 | #5 | 26,322 | 1.4912% |
| 1964 | #3 | 31,515 | 1.6632% |
| 1963 | #3 | 33,990 | 1.7635% |
| 1962 | #3 | 35,750 | 1.8178% |
| 1961 | #3 | 37,530 | 1.8594% |
| 1960 | #2 | 39,208 | 1.9392% |
| 1959 | #2 | 41,616 | 2.0567% |
| 1958 | #2 | 45,172 | 2.2456% |
| 1957 | #2 | 45,952 | 2.2472% |
| 1956 | #5 | 46,562 | 2.3192% |
| 1955 | #5 | 47,419 | 2.4252% |
| 1954 | #5 | 47,162 | 2.4286% |
| 1953 | #5 | 44,297 | 2.3546% |
| 1952 | #5 | 41,348 | 2.2298% |
| 1951 | #6 | 40,228 | 2.2338% |
| 1950 | #5 | 38,017 | 2.2193% |
| 1949 | #5 | 37,709 | 2.2041% |
| 1948 | #5 | 35,988 | 2.1196% |
| 1947 | #8 | 31,951 | 1.8023% |
| 1946 | #8 | 28,268 | 1.7990% |
| 1945 | #10 | 19,221 | 1.4705% |
| 1944 | #13 | 16,330 | 1.2304% |
| 1943 | #18 | 14,888 | 1.0670% |
| 1942 | #21 | 12,015 | 0.8895% |
| 1941 | #27 | 8,888 | 0.7357% |
| 1940 | #36 | 6,756 | 0.5908% |
| 1939 | #44 | 4,887 | 0.4456% |
| 1938 | #72 | 3,555 | 0.3222% |
| 1937 | #97 | 2,641 | 0.2482% |
| 1936 | #110 | 2,153 | 0.2069% |
| 1935 | #126 | 1,801 | 0.1718% |
| 1934 | #138 | 1,492 | 0.1429% |
| 1933 | #149 | 1,264 | 0.1254% |
| 1932 | #158 | 1,227 | 0.1150% |
| 1931 | #180 | 1,005 | 0.0944% |
| 1930 | #192 | 1,003 | 0.0891% |
| 1929 | #210 | 874 | 0.0783% |
| 1928 | #220 | 812 | 0.0704% |
| 1927 | #218 | 868 | 0.0728% |
| 1926 | #215 | 858 | 0.0724% |
| 1925 | #219 | 862 | 0.0708% |
| 1924 | #227 | 832 | 0.0666% |
| 1923 | #228 | 811 | 0.0672% |
| 1922 | #229 | 795 | 0.0662% |
| 1921 | #222 | 846 | 0.0686% |
| 1920 | #225 | 850 | 0.0709% |
| 1919 | #217 | 824 | 0.0729% |
| 1918 | #208 | 912 | 0.0788% |
| 1917 | #210 | 837 | 0.0774% |
| 1916 | #207 | 844 | 0.0808% |
| 1915 | #202 | 817 | 0.0830% |
| 1914 | #200 | 661 | 0.0868% |
| 1913 | #196 | 543 | 0.0869% |
| 1912 | #186 | 522 | 0.0935% |
| 1911 | #167 | 459 | 0.1097% |
| 1910 | #173 | 395 | 0.0996% |
| 1909 | #164 | 380 | 0.1094% |
| 1908 | #170 | 350 | 0.1047% |
| 1907 | #167 | 355 | 0.1114% |
| 1906 | #166 | 326 | 0.1104% |
| 1905 | #165 | 320 | 0.1097% |
| 1904 | #166 | 324 | 0.1177% |
| 1903 | #163 | 305 | 0.1164% |
| 1902 | #155 | 335 | 0.1269% |
| 1901 | #145 | 342 | 0.1429% |
| 1900 | #144 | 410 | 0.1368% |
| 1899 | #134 | 350 | 0.1502% |
| 1898 | #135 | 382 | 0.1476% |
| 1897 | #140 | 341 | 0.1456% |
| 1896 | #138 | 343 | 0.1442% |
| 1895 | #120 | 393 | 0.1682% |
| 1894 | #125 | 357 | 0.1601% |
| 1893 | #122 | 356 | 0.1672% |
| 1892 | #123 | 366 | 0.1724% |
| 1891 | #106 | 370 | 0.1995% |
| 1890 | #115 | 354 | 0.1859% |
| 1889 | #107 | 356 | 0.1996% |
| 1888 | #106 | 363 | 0.2032% |
| 1887 | #99 | 335 | 0.2295% |
| 1886 | #102 | 323 | 0.2235% |
| 1885 | #100 | 302 | 0.2270% |
| 1884 | #94 | 326 | 0.2527% |
| 1883 | #85 | 322 | 0.2867% |
| 1882 | #79 | 326 | 0.3023% |
| 1881 | #79 | 292 | 0.3176% |
| 1880 | #80 | 286 | 0.3143% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | #13,994 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #13,803 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #9,806 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #6,736 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #7,301 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #4,371 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1989 | #3,787 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1988 | #3,329 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1987 | #4,202 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #2,993 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1985 | #2,814 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1984 | #3,088 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1983 | #3,206 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1982 | #2,810 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1981 | #3,010 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #2,604 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1979 | #2,226 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1978 | #2,266 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1977 | #2,447 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1976 | #2,407 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1975 | #1,624 | 32 | 0.0020% |
| 1974 | #1,464 | 36 | 0.0023% |
| 1973 | #1,583 | 31 | 0.0020% |
| 1972 | #1,260 | 44 | 0.0027% |
| 1971 | #1,252 | 45 | 0.0025% |
| 1970 | #1,156 | 52 | 0.0028% |
| 1969 | #1,107 | 50 | 0.0028% |
| 1968 | #985 | 57 | 0.0033% |
| 1967 | #909 | 64 | 0.0037% |
| 1966 | #886 | 67 | 0.0038% |
| 1965 | #1,017 | 53 | 0.0028% |
| 1964 | #830 | 84 | 0.0042% |
| 1963 | #848 | 80 | 0.0039% |
| 1962 | #822 | 86 | 0.0042% |
| 1961 | #823 | 87 | 0.0041% |
| 1960 | #841 | 81 | 0.0038% |
| 1959 | #822 | 87 | 0.0041% |
| 1958 | #807 | 87 | 0.0041% |
| 1957 | #765 | 97 | 0.0045% |
| 1956 | #915 | 67 | 0.0032% |
| 1955 | #931 | 65 | 0.0032% |
| 1954 | #915 | 66 | 0.0032% |
| 1953 | #857 | 71 | 0.0036% |
| 1952 | #967 | 55 | 0.0028% |
| 1951 | #1,094 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 1950 | #916 | 57 | 0.0032% |
| 1949 | #965 | 52 | 0.0029% |
| 1948 | #931 | 56 | 0.0032% |
| 1947 | #875 | 64 | 0.0035% |
| 1946 | #860 | 59 | 0.0036% |
| 1945 | #849 | 55 | 0.0041% |
| 1944 | #859 | 55 | 0.0040% |
| 1943 | #951 | 50 | 0.0035% |
| 1942 | #908 | 54 | 0.0039% |
| 1941 | #1,046 | 39 | 0.0032% |
| 1940 | #1,307 | 27 | 0.0023% |
| 1939 | #1,528 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1938 | #1,805 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1937 | #2,461 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1936 | #2,167 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1935 | #4,088 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1934 | #2,725 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1933 | #4,098 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1932 | #2,820 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1927 | #4,160 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1915 | #4,326 | 5 | 0.0006% |
| 1897 | #1,212 | 5 | 0.0044% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Susan
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Susan Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. Emergencies may raise your intuitive abilities in order to resolve conflict or situation. You become very creative under the pressure, and have quite original ideas to make the best out of it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Susan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Susan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.