# Susan

/ˈsuzən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/susan
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. female name

noun · CEFR A1

a common traditional name for a woman or girl.

For teachers: a female given name, derived from the Hebrew word for lily.

- My aunt Susan lives in a small house by the sea.
- Susan was a remarkably popular name in the mid-twentieth century, though its frequency in birth registries has declined in recent decades.

### 2. person from Susa

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

a person who lived in the ancient city of Susa.

For teachers: a resident or inhabitant of the ancient city of Susa, the capital of Elam.

- The ancient text describes a Susan who traveled to the palace.
- Historical accounts of the Achaemenid Empire often distinguish between the Persians and the Susans who managed the administrative heart of the state.

### 3. relating to Susa

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

related to the ancient city of Susa.

For teachers: pertaining to the ancient city of Susa or its culture.

- The museum displayed several Susan artifacts from the bronze age.
- The archaeological team uncovered Susan pottery shards that suggested a complex trade network with neighboring Mesopotamian city-states.

## Examples

- My aunt Susan lives in London.
- Susan decided to change her career path after working in the same office for twenty years.
- The name Susan reached its peak popularity in the United States during the 1950s and 60s, often appearing alongside other classic names in historical census data.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.