Holding steady, #10,107 for girls today.
Popularity of Su since 1935
Babies named Su per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 13 |
| 1940s | 91 |
| 1950s | 141 |
| 1960s | 91 |
| 1970s | 69 |
| 1980s | 66 |
| 1990s | 62 |
| 2000s | 61 |
| 2010s | 80 |
| 2020s | 26 |
Meaning & origin
Su is a concise name that saw its peak popularity in 1957, during the mid-century era when diminutives like Sue and Su were fashionable. Although it ranked 10,107 in 2025 with only 1 in 178,585 girls receiving the name, its trajectory has remained stable over the decades. Originally a short form of Susan, Su carries the floral heritage of the Hebrew 'lily' and reflects a trend of using casual, friendly names. Its top states are not recorded in available data, suggesting broad but shallow distribution. The name's appeal today lies in its simplicity and retro charm, standing apart from modern coinages.
Su is predominantly used as a diminutive of Susan or Susanna, names derived from the Hebrew Shoshannah meaning 'lily'. In English-speaking countries, short forms like Su became common as independent given names in the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1950s. Though sometimes associated with Chinese names where Su means 'plain' or 'simple', no direct connection is established for the English usage.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Su
Names that share Su's style, for a brother or sister.
