Fun Facts About the Name Su
- 733 babies named Su: U.S. records list 733 babies given the name Su from 1880 through 2025. Even 33 boys received the name Su - about 1 boy for every 21 girls.
What Does the Name Su Mean?
Su has more than one independent origin, so it does not carry a single meaning. In Turkish, Su is a female given name taken directly from the everyday word su, "water," which goes back to the Old Turkic form sub. Since it is simply the common noun, its sense is transparent to Turkish speakers.
In English, Su is a shortened form of Susan, Susanna, and Suzanne. These come from Hebrew Shoshannah, traditionally explained as "lily" and sometimes rendered "rose." The deeper origin of the Hebrew word is uncertain; some scholars connect it with an Egyptian term for a water lily or lotus, but the customary meaning attached to the name is "lily."
In Chinese and Korean, Su is not one fixed name but a syllable used inside longer given names and written with different characters, so its meaning depends on the character chosen (for instance Chinese sù 素 "plain" or sū 苏 "to revive"). No single meaning can be assigned to the syllable by itself.
Su Name History & Origins
Turkish su, "water," is an old Turkic word, attested in early Turkic inscriptions in the form sub. Turkish draws personal names from ordinary words of this kind - Deniz "sea," Yağmur "rain," Gül "rose" - and Su is used as a girl's name within that pattern.
English Su belongs to the family of short forms of Susan and its relatives. Susan entered English from French Suzanne, which descends from Hebrew Shoshannah by way of Greek Sousanna and Latin Susanna. The biblical Susanna, whose story is told in the Greek additions to the Book of Daniel, kept the longer name familiar in Christian Europe, and Su is a clipped, informal form of it rather than an independent name with its own separate history.
In Korean, 수 (Su) is a very common syllable in two-syllable given names, and Chinese names likewise use characters read sū or sù as name elements. In both traditions the syllable is chosen together with a second syllable, and the parents fix the meaning by choosing the character. The Chinese surname 蘇 (Su), an old clan name, is a separate matter from Su used as a given name.
How Popular is the Name Su?
Su has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1957. Its best rank was #2,479 in 1957.
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 | #10,816 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #17,307 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #13,413 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #17,214 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #13,631 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #9,856 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2016 | #10,760 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2015 | #7,959 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2014 | #14,384 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #10,908 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #10,308 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #12,134 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #15,050 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #17,359 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #16,871 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #14,325 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #15,850 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #13,675 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #10,991 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2001 | #15,109 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #12,969 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1998 | #13,892 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #11,656 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #8,671 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #10,424 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #13,228 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #11,587 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #10,145 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #8,422 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #14,276 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #11,607 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #7,916 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #12,584 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #7,488 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #8,064 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #10,345 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #6,750 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1980 | #8,069 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #6,116 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #8,318 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #6,529 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1975 | #5,929 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1974 | #10,027 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1973 | #8,285 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #9,444 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #7,267 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1970 | #5,756 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #4,691 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1967 | #3,627 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1966 | #7,475 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #7,393 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #4,963 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #3,616 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #4,234 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1961 | #4,202 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #4,143 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1959 | #4,003 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1958 | #2,567 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1957 | #2,479 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1956 | #2,805 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1955 | #2,828 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1954 | #3,308 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1953 | #5,596 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #4,866 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #3,464 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #2,764 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1949 | #3,158 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1948 | #3,575 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1947 | #2,884 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1946 | #3,405 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1945 | #2,895 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1944 | #2,750 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1943 | #4,635 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #3,414 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1941 | #3,915 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1939 | #3,740 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1935 | #4,151 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | #10,586 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #9,965 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #9,450 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1987 | #6,838 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #7,197 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #7,240 | 5 | 0.0003% |
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.
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How the Name Su 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.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Su's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Su's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.