Holding steady.
Popularity of Suellen since 1936
Babies named Suellen per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 106 |
| 1940s | 1,326 |
| 1950s | 969 |
| 1960s | 619 |
| 1970s | 177 |
| 1980s | 90 |
| 1990s | 22 |
| 2000s | 17 |
| 2010s | 10 |
| 2020s | 6 |
Meaning & origin
Suellen is a compound name that blends Sue and Ellen, a style common in the early to mid-20th century. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1936 and reached its peak popularity in 1941, during an era when hyphenated and compound names were fashionable. The name's trajectory has been stable but extremely low; it has not ranked in the top 1000 since the 1950s and is now rare. Today, Suellen is a retro choice that evokes mid-century Americana, though it is used less frequently than its simpler components.
Suellen is a compound name formed from Sue, a diminutive of Susan (from Hebrew Shoshannah meaning 'lily'), and Ellen, a variant of Helen (from Greek Helene, possibly meaning 'light' or 'torch'). The name emerged in the early 20th century as part of the trend for combining family or familiar names. It gained modest popularity in the United States during the 1940s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sue, Ellie, Lena
Variants: Sue Ellen, Suellen
Sibling names for Suellen
Names that share Suellen's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Mary Ann, Betty Jo, Peggy Sue, Linda Lou, Cathy Ann
Brothers: Billy Joe, Jimmy Lee, Bobby Ray, Tommy Dean, Johnny Mack
