What Does the Name Susan Mean?
Susan is a girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning “lily, rose.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Susan |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Meaning | lily, rose |
| Variants | Susanna, Suzanne, Susannah, Sue, Susie |
| Popularity | A top 10 US girls' name through much of the 1950s and 1960s |
The meaning and origin of Susan
The name Susan means “lily, rose” and has Hebrew origins. The English form of Susanna, from the Hebrew Shoshannah, meaning 'lily' (and later associated with the rose). It appears in the biblical Book of Daniel and the Gospel of Luke and became extremely common in the mid-20th century.
Variants and related names
Susan is related to several other names you may recognize: Susanna, Suzanne, Susannah, Sue, Susie. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Susan?
A top 10 US girls' name through much of the 1950s and 1960s
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Susan mean?+
The name Susan means “lily, rose” and is of Hebrew origin.
What is the origin of the name Susan?+
Susan originates from Hebrew.
Is Susan a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Susan has trended in the US over time.
Susan by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press