Suellen
A girl's name of Hebrew origin with 3,342 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name.
Suellen is a girl's baby name of Hebrew origin, a combination of Sue (from Susan, from the Hebrew Shoshannah, meaning 'lily') and Ellen (from the Greek Helen, meaning 'bright, shining'). The combination creates a distinctly Southern American double name.
Suellen O'Hara — Scarlett's younger sister in Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind — made this name feel quintessentially Southern. It carries the warm, slow grace of old Southern naming traditions at their most distinctive.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Suellen belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their clean, contemporary ending — among the most common endings in modern American names. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.
Within the Hebrew naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Hebrew names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Suellen’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Suellen has 61+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1936.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 6 | #14897 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 10 | #18533 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 17 | #12212 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 22 | #14572 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 90 | #7643 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 177 | #4578 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 619 | #1477 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 969 | #1020 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 1,326 | #679 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 106 | #2158 | — |
The Story of Suellen
A Silent Generation name
Peaking in 1941, Suellen is an elegant vintage name. Girls named Suellen are most likely born between 1936 and 1951.
How rare is Suellen?
With 3,342 total births on record, Suellen remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1936, peaked in the 1940s with 1,326 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Suellen by the numbers
- Would fill 70 school buses
- Meeting one Suellen per day would take 9.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(61 years, 1936–2020)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 | #14897 |
| 2018 | 5 | #17833 |
| 2011 | 5 | #19232 |
| 2007 | 8 | #13784 |
| 2000 | 9 | #10639 |
| 1997 | 5 | #15836 |
| 1996 | 7 | #11657 |
| 1993 | 5 | #15494 |
| 1992 | 5 | #15301 |
| 1987 | 5 | #13015 |
| 1986 | 8 | #8423 |
| 1985 | 7 | #9170 |
| 1984 | 6 | #10232 |
| 1983 | 14 | #5111 |
| 1982 | 21 | #3887 |
| 1981 | 9 | #7324 |
| 1980 | 20 | #3983 |
| 1979 | 19 | #4026 |
| 1978 | 12 | #5512 |
| 1977 | 7 | #8320 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Suellen a boy's or girl's name?
When was Suellen most popular?
How popular is the name Suellen?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1936–2020