Worn by nearly 66,000 people in France and ranked in the Top 100 of the most popular female first names, this old first name is once again attracting parents. Inherited from the biblical tradition and long popular at the turn of the 20th century, it is today experiencing renewed interest.
A biblical first name steeped in history
Of Hebrew origin, this first name means “lily”, a symbol of purity and elegance. It appears in Christian tradition from the first centuries with Saint Suzanne of Rome, a Roman virgin martyred in the 3rd century under the reign of Diocletian.
The most famous biblical figure remains that told in the Book of Daniel. Wrongly accused of adultery by two old men whose advances she had refused, Suzanne is finally exonerated thanks to the intervention of the prophet Daniel. This episode, which has become a major theme in the history of art, inspired many painters, notably Rembrandt.
A great success at the end of the 19th century
Very present in the Middle Ages, the first name truly established itself in France at the end of the 19th century. It even reached its peak at the beginning of the 1920s, where it appeared in 4th place among the most given female first names.
The second half of the 20th century, however, marked a decline. The rise of the English form Susan then helped to turn parents away from the French version, which became rarer for several decades.
A remarkable return among young parents
In recent years, the trend has been reversing. This old first name benefits from the return to favor of retro, elegant and historical first names. With around 66,000 people wearing it today in France, it is still in the national Top 100 and could continue to progress.
Its variants — Susanne, Suzan, Suzane or Suzanna — demonstrate its diffusion in many cultures. According to the book
The Official First Names (First Editions), people with this first name are often associated with marked character traits: independence, boldness, dynamism, sense of direction and confidence.
Between biblical heritage, historical prestige and rediscovered modernity, this ancient first name seems determined to regain a bright place in the landscape of French first names.