Su
Primarily a girl's name of Hebrew origin with 691 recorded births. Also given to 33 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A diminutive of the female given name Susan and of its variant forms.
Su is a girl's and boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, a compact diminutive of Susan or Susanna, derived from the Hebrew Shoshana, meaning 'lily' or 'rose.' As a standalone name, Su carries all the sweetness of Susan compressed into a single, clean syllable.
Su is also used as a given name in Chinese communities, where it may be written with characters meaning 'revive' or 'straightforward,' giving the name cultural meaning across very different traditions. Its single-syllable simplicity makes it both memorably minimal and effortlessly international.
EtymologyShow more
Though Su dates back to 1935 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Hebrew classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Su’s 691 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Su has 76+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1935.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 17 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 80 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 61 | — |
| 1990s | 62 | — |
| 1980s | 66 | — |
| 1970s | 69 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 91 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 141 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 91 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 13 | — |
The Story of Su
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1957, Su is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Su are most likely born between 1947 and 1967.
How rare is Su?
With 691 total births on record, Su remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1935, peaked in the 1950s with 141 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Su by the numbers
- Would fill 14 school buses
- Meeting one Su per day would take 1.9 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(76 years, 1935–2023)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 | #17307 |
| 2022 | 7 | #13413 |
| 2020 | 5 | #17214 |
| 2019 | 7 | #13631 |
| 2017 | 11 | #9856 |
| 2016 | 10 | #10760 |
| 2015 | 15 | #7959 |
| 2014 | 7 | #14384 |
| 2013 | 10 | #10908 |
| 2011 | 11 | #10308 |
| 2010 | 9 | #12134 |
| 2009 | 7 | #15050 |
| 2007 | 6 | #17359 |
| 2006 | 6 | #16871 |
| 2005 | 7 | #14325 |
| 2004 | 6 | #15850 |
| 2003 | 7 | #13675 |
| 2002 | 9 | #10991 |
| 2001 | 6 | #15109 |
| 2000 | 7 | #12969 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Su as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Su has also been given to 33 boys in the U.S. since 1982.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Su a boy's or girl's name?
When was Su most popular?
How popular is the name Su?
Can Su be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1935–2023