Sue Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Sue originates from Hebrew, meaning 'lily' or 'rose,' evolving through various forms including Shoshana and Susan. It has gained popularity in English-speaking regions as a diminutive name, often reflecting warmth and familiarity. There are no direct biblical ties to the name. Notable individuals with this name include Sue Grafton and Sue Perkins.
The name Sue is most popular in Kentucky, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Sue has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Sue' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6320th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2445th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2871st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 7360th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4872nd out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 243rd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 110th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 111th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 367th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1372nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5227th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 9431st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Sue' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Sue"
Pronunciation
/suː/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Sue is often considered a diminutive of the name Susan, which derives from the Hebrew name Shoshana, meaning 'lily' or 'rose.'
Meaning
lily, rose
Language Evolution
Shoshana (Hebrew), Susanna (Latin), Susan (English), Sue (English)
Historical Usage
The name Sue gained popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a standalone name.
Variants & Derivatives
Susan, Suzanne, Sukey
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Sue is viewed as a classic and somewhat vintage name, often associated with warmth and familiarity.
Famous People
Sue Grafton, Sue Sylvester, Sue Perkins
Explore More Sue Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Sue"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Sue"
"Sue" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 6320th of 7545 | 12 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2445th of 6773 | 177 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2871st of 7552 | 156 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 7360th of 10718 | 23 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 4872nd of 16616 | 151 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 243rd of 9107 | 13,057 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 110th of 9204 | 43,124 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 111th of 12526 | 73,365 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 367th of 19264 | 10,306 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1372nd of 27321 | 1,749 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 5227th of 35406 | 391 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 9431st of 30306 | 130 |
Regional Popularity of "Sue" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
57.42% 2116th/3685 |
- | - |
36.17% 2285th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Sue" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
20.06% 284th/1416 |
15.95% 220th/1379 |
7.86% 186th/2366 |
24.96% 285th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
5.17% 80th/1546 |
10.80% 168th/1556 |
4.21% 99th/2353 |
6.72% 104th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
3.28% 73rd/2227 |
5.93% 144th/2430 |
4.56% 130th/2853 |
4.43% 123rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
9.36% 275th/2937 |
10.88% 379th/3483 |
11.68% 411th/3518 |
12.56% 508th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
35.03% 1291st/3685 |
32.27% 1444th/4475 |
26.18% 1360th/5194 |
22.94% 1449th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
100.00% 4582nd/4582 |
- |
83.69% 6120th/7313 |
91.57% 6834th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Sue"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Sue" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.