Meaning & History
Súsanna is the Faroese and Icelandic form of Susannah, which in turn derives from Susanna. The name ultimately comes from the Hebrew Shoshanna, meaning "lily" (and in modern Hebrew also "rose"), a term etymologically linked to the Egyptian word sšn for "lotus".
Etymology
The root Susanna originates from the Greek Sousanna, a transcription of the Hebrew שׁוֹשַׁנָּה (Shoshanna). This Hebrew word derives from שׁוֹשָׁן (shoshan), meaning "lily" or "lotus", a flower symbolizing purity and beauty in ancient Near Eastern cultures. The name gained prominence through two biblical figures: first, a woman in the Old Testament Apocrypha falsely accused of adultery but saved by the prophet Daniel; second, a follower of Jesus mentioned in the New Testament.
History and Distribution
Súsanna is primarily used in the Faroe Islands and Iceland, where it reflects the traditional adoption of biblical names with localized spelling. The name is a direct borrowing, preserving the Latinized form found in medieval ecclesiastical contexts. In Iceland, it is sometimes shortened to the pet form Sunna, though Sunna also exists as an independent name related to Norse mythology. The Faroese population, small and historically isolated, has maintained Súsanna as a classic given name, often passed down through generations.
Matronymics and Usage
In the Faroe Islands, matronymic naming traditions persist, with Súsanna's children carrying the suffixes -son or -dóttir. For example, a son would be Súsonnuson or Súsannuson, and a daughter – Súsonnudóttir or Súsannudóttir. Both variants – with or without the double n – are acceptable, reflecting flexibility in orthography. As an Icelandic standard, the name follows typical declension patterns but does not carry matronymics in modern Iceland, where surnames are fixed.
- Meaning: lily (also rose in modern Hebrew)
- Origin: Hebrew, via Greek and Latin
- Type: Biblical
- Usage Regions: Faroe Islands, Iceland
Related Names
Sources: Wiktionary — Súsanna