Meaning & History
Suzanne is a common female given name, predominantly used in Dutch, English, and French-speaking countries. It is the French form of Susanna, which itself derives from the Greek Σουσάννα (Sousanna), ultimately from the Hebrew name שׁוֹשַׁנָּה (Shoshanna) meaning "lily" or "rose" in modern Hebrew, and possibly from the Egyptian sšn meaning "lotus".
Etymology and Biblical Roots
The name Susanna appears in the Old Testament Apocrypha as a virtuous woman falsely accused of adultery; the prophet Daniel clears her name. It also appears in the New Testament as a woman who ministers to Jesus. In English, the name was occasionally used during the Middle Ages in honor of the Old Testament heroine but did not become common until after the Protestant Reformation, when it was often spelled Susan.
Popularity in the United States
Suzanne enjoyed peak popularity in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. It remained in the top 200 most popular names from 1930 through the late 1980s. Common diminutives include Sue and Suzy.
Notable Bearers
Notable bearers include Suzanne, Duchess of Bourbon (1491–1521); French philosopher Suzanne Bachelard (1919–2007); Suzanne Beauclerk, Duchess of St Albans (1921–2010); Suzanne Bertillon (1891–1980), French resistance fighter; and French actress Suzanne Bianchetti (1889–1936).
Variants and Related Forms
Variants of Suzanne include: English forms Susan, Susanna, Susanne; French diminutives Suzette, Suze; English diminutives Suzi, Suzie, Suzy. Other languages and cultures include Slovene Suzana, Arabic Sawsan, Armenian Shushan, Ukrainian Susanna, Russian Syuzanna, and Armenian Shushanik.
- Meaning: Lily, rose, lotus
- Origin: Hebrew, via Greek and French
- Type: Given name
- Usage regions: French, English, Dutch-speaking countries
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Suzanne (given name)