Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Sue
GirlEnglish, Hebrew· “short form of Susan, lily”
- Meaning
- short form of Susan, lily
- Origin
- English, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- SOO
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #9,387
- US babies 2025
- 11
- Best rank
- #61 (1946)
- Peak year
- 1947
Meaning and origin of Sue
Sue is an English and Hebrew name that means “short form of Susan, lily”.
Sue is a short form of Susan, Susanna or Suzanne, names that come from the Hebrew Shoshannah, lily. Susanna is a figure in the Book of Daniel in some Bibles, and a Susanna appears among the followers of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. Sue has been used as an independent name in the US since the nineteenth century, especially in the South, often in double names such as Mary Sue or Betty Sue. It is said SOO. The name is simple and friendly, with a strong mid-century flavor. Suzy and Susie are relatives, and Sue is also a nickname for Suellen.
Other spellings with the same sound: Su.
Popularity over time
Sue has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 105 different years. Its best national rank was #61 in 1946, and the most babies received it in 1947, when 5,306 were named Sue. In 2025, 11 babies were named Sue, and it ranked #9,387 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #246 in 1920, #100 in 1950, #543 in 1980, #3,652 in 2000, #7,475 in 2010, and #9,387 in 2025. Of the 144,536 US girls named Sue since records began, 28% were born in the 1940s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 38,852 babies. Since 2010, 190 more have been named Sue.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Sally, Lynda, Joanne, Rosemary, and Dianne.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Sue is usually pronounced SOO, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with S and ends in “-ue”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Su.
Middle names for Sue
A few middle names that flow with Sue: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sue
Similar names
Jane Girl
JAYN
“God is gracious” · English
#221
Ann Girl
AN
“grace, favor” · English
#1,076
Rae Girl
RAY
“ewe (short for Rachel)” · English
#1,306
Gail Girl
GAYL
“short form of Abigail, father's joy” · Hebrew
#8,535
Rue Girl
ROO
“the herb rue; also regret” · English
#1,324
Blue Unisex
BLOO
“the color blue” · English
#2,648
Beth Girl
BEHTH
“short form of Elizabeth; Hebrew "house"” · Hebrew
#3,405
Joan Unisex
JOHN
“God is gracious” · English
#987
Lillian Girl
LIH-lee-uhn
“possibly from Elizabeth; linked to lily” · English
#57
Mary Girl
MEH-ree
“uncertain; often said bitter or beloved” · Hebrew
#125
Ruth Girl
ROOTH
“possibly friend, companion” · Hebrew
#173
June Girl
JOON
“the month of June” · English
#150
Lists that include Sue
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sue mean?
Sue is an English and Hebrew name that means “short form of Susan, lily”.
What is the origin of the name Sue?
Sue has English and Hebrew roots. Sue is a short form of Susan, Susanna or Suzanne, names that come from the Hebrew Shoshannah, lily.
Is Sue a popular name?
Not especially. Sue ranked #9,387 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Sue a boy or girl name?
Sue is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Sue?
Sue is usually pronounced SOO. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings