Susan
How to say it: SOO-zun · /ˈsuzən/
English form of Susanna, from Hebrew 'Shoshannah' meaning 'lily'. Very popular in the mid-20th century.
Susan was the 943rd most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 222 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1950s, its births are down about 26% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #986 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #943 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 222 |
| Share of births | 1 in 14,933 |
| Peak decade | 1950s |
| Change over 10 years | −26% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #986 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Dominant in the 1950s, Susan now stands far below its former height. Use keeps thinning and a further slip looks likely.
What goes with it
Gentle and breathy, SOO zun moves in two soft syllables. Sue is a familiar short form, while Barbara shares its era style.
Nicknames
- Sue
- Suzie
- Susy
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Susan is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew.
Famous people named Susan
- Susan Sarandon (born 1946)American actress and activist
- Susan Boyle (born 1961)British singer
- Susan Sontag (1933–2004)American writer and filmmaker, professor, and activist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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