Susan in Chinese
Susan in Chinese is 苏珊 (Sū Shān).
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Meaning
- lily
Etymologically, Susan is Hebrew and is commonly glossed as "lily". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 1950s. Names sharing the same root meaning include Liliana.
3 ways to write Susan
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
苏珊
Sū Shān
The standard transliteration of Susan: 苏 (sū, "to revive; perilla"), 珊 (shān, "coral"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Syllable by syllable: 苏 (sū) carries "su", 珊 (shān) carries "san". The tone contour is 1-1 (high level, high level).
Character breakdown
17 strokes total (simplified)- 苏
sū
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
to revive; perilla
- 珊
shān
Tone 1 · 9 strokes (simplified)
coral
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
芷若
Zhǐ Ruò
Inspired by "lily": 芷 (zhǐ, "angelica (fragrant herb)") + 若 (ruò, "like, as if"), expressing flowers, trees and natural beauty.
Why these characters?
芷 (angelica (fragrant herb)) answers the "lily" in Susan's meaning, and 若 (like, as if) rounds it off as a typical ending for girls' names.
Character breakdown
16 strokes total (simplified)- 芷
zhǐ
Tone 3 · 7 strokes (simplified)
angelica (fragrant herb)
- 若
ruò
Tone 4 · 9 strokes (simplified)
like, as if
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
苏梅
Sū Méi
苏 (sū, "to revive; perilla") + 梅 (méi, "plum blossom"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 苏 (sū), the same opening character as the transliteration 苏珊, for the "su" sound, and replaces the rest with 梅 ("plum blossom") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
19 strokes total (simplified)- 苏
sū
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
to revive; perilla
- 梅
méi
Tone 2 · 11 strokes (simplified)
plum blossom
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
Loading stroke guides…
Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 1,121,440 girls named Susan since 1880, with the high point in 1955 (47,397 births) and the busiest decade being the 1950s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #172 to #959 among girls.
- Peak year
- 1955
- Peak decade
- 1950s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 1,121,440
More About Susan in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Susan offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Susan, you'll find options that work for you.
Names with the same root meaning include Liliana in Chinese, which share similar origins or meanings.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Liliana in Chinese, Carrie in Chinese, and Denise in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Liliana in Chinese, Abby in Chinese, Stella in Chinese, and Vivian in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Susan, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Susan to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write Susan in Chinese?
苏珊 (Sū Shān), or 蘇珊 in traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
Is Susan written differently in traditional Chinese?
Yes: 苏珊 becomes 蘇珊; the changed characters are 苏→蘇. Use traditional for Taiwan or Hong Kong audiences.
Is there a Chinese name for Susan with real meaning?
Try 芷若 (Zhǐ Ruò): angelica (fragrant herb) + like, as if, inspired by "lily". For something that still sounds like Susan, 苏梅 (Sū Méi) is a middle ground.