UK girl's name
Su
A feminine name of Chinese origin meaning "beautiful, lovely".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Su is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Su popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4709, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 9 births.
This profile covers 91 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 1998 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 91 living people in the UK are called Su. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Su ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 9 girls were registered as Su.
- • About 91 living people in the UK are estimated to have Su as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4709
2023
Births in 2023
4
Latest year
Peak year
2007
9 births
Estimated living
91
2026
Meaning
What does Su mean?
The name Su has its origins in several cultures and languages around the world. It is believed to have derived from the ancient Chinese word "蘇" which means "revive" or "renew". This name was popular in China during the Tang Dynasty, which ruled from 618 to 907 AD.
In Japanese, the name Su can be written as "寿" or "壽", both of which are associated with longevity and good fortune. The name appears in several historical Japanese texts, including the Kojiki, which is a collection of ancient myths and legends dating back to the 8th century AD.
Su is also a common name in India, where it is derived from the Sanskrit word "सु" which means "good" or "auspicious". The name can be found in Hindu scriptures such as the Vedas and the Puranas, which date back to ancient times.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Su comes from the ancient Chinese philosopher Su Qin, who lived from 594 to 636 AD. He was a prominent writer and statesman during the Tang Dynasty.
Another notable figure with the name Su was Su Shi, a famous Chinese poet, calligrapher, and painter who lived from 1037 to 1101 AD. He is considered one of the greatest literary figures in Chinese history and his works have had a lasting influence on Chinese culture.
In Japan, one of the most famous historical figures with the name Su was Sumitomo Su, who lived from 1585 to 1639. He was a successful merchant and the founder of the Sumitomo Group, one of the oldest and largest business conglomerates in Japan.
In India, the name Su has been associated with several notable figures, including Su Narayana Sarma, a renowned mathematician and astronomer who lived from 1489 to 1503. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and is credited with developing new methods for calculating planetary positions.
Another famous Indian with the name Su was Su Venkateswara Rao, a social reformer and advocate for women's rights who lived from 1835 to 1898. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the first women's college in India and worked tirelessly to promote education and empowerment for women.
Throughout history, the name Su has been associated with various cultures and has carried meanings of renewal, longevity, and auspiciousness. It has been borne by many influential figures across different fields, from philosophy and literature to astronomy and social reform.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Su over time
The chart below shows babies named Su registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Su, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Su by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Su was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4626 | 12 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4235 | 45 | 9 |
| 2000s | #3383 | 30 | 5 |
| 1990s | #3142 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Su
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Su: questions and answers
How popular is the name Su in the UK right now?
In 2023, Su was ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Su most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 9 babies registered as Su in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Su?
A feminine name of Chinese origin meaning "beautiful, lovely".
How many people are called Su in the UK?
A total of 91 babies have been registered as Su across the 18 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.