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Help[Opinions] Susanna and Susannah
What do you think of Susanna and Susannah? Which spelling do you prefer? Do you think Sue and Susie are avoidable? I don't really like Sue, I don't mind Susie but I prefer the full form. Are Lily and Susanna too much for sisters (same meaning)?
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I adore Susanna (this spelling) enough to use. Susannah is fine too for someone else; I just find the h weighs down the name somewhat. I do think Sue or Susie are avoidable although I'd probably call my Susanna Susie (or even Susa or Suzu). At least in the immediate family I would. I'd prefer that she be called Susanna by everyone else.
Re: Lily and Susanna, I find the subtlety very charming and clever. Besides, many wouldn't figure it out anyway so you might as well use what you like.
Re: Lily and Susanna, I find the subtlety very charming and clever. Besides, many wouldn't figure it out anyway so you might as well use what you like.
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My name is Susanna!
I actually quite like it. I've never met another Susanna in my age range (20s) in the UK. In fact, I don't think I've ever met a British Susanna! I think I've met a Susannah, and I've met many a Sue (all of whom are 30+ and, for those I've known their full name, have either been a Sue or a Susan) and several Susies (don't know about them, the two I know personally are Susans, not sure about others). I guess that some of those unknown-full name Sues and Susies could be Susanna / Susannah, but they don't go by it.
My parents picked my name because it works in many languages, and they just liked it, I guess. As a result, it's not *rare* internationally, but if I'm honest, I don't know many Susannas in the UK where I am now and it doesn't seem to be common here.
I think I might prefer Susannah, because I feel it looks more 'complete', but I don't dislike my spelling either.
And when it comes to nicknames... I tend to go by Susanna. My family have all kinds of nicknames for me, but I don't like the standard Sue or Suze or Susie, and I've found that I don't actually have all that many issues with people calling me them. I introduce myself as Susanna, and people usually call me Susanna. Sometimes they ask if I have a nickname, and I politely explain that I don't like the standard Susanna nicknames. I've had the very rare odd person not be okay with that, most people don't care either way. Equally, most people don't call me Susie or whatever without asking about nicknames - those who do, I either let it go (even though it's a bit rude to just use a nickname without asking the person imho) or, if I end up knowing them better, I find a way to let them know that I prefer just being called Susanna without putting their nose out of joint. Either way (apart from family nicknames) socially and professionally, I manage to go by Susanna most of the time.
I actually quite like it. I've never met another Susanna in my age range (20s) in the UK. In fact, I don't think I've ever met a British Susanna! I think I've met a Susannah, and I've met many a Sue (all of whom are 30+ and, for those I've known their full name, have either been a Sue or a Susan) and several Susies (don't know about them, the two I know personally are Susans, not sure about others). I guess that some of those unknown-full name Sues and Susies could be Susanna / Susannah, but they don't go by it.
My parents picked my name because it works in many languages, and they just liked it, I guess. As a result, it's not *rare* internationally, but if I'm honest, I don't know many Susannas in the UK where I am now and it doesn't seem to be common here.
I think I might prefer Susannah, because I feel it looks more 'complete', but I don't dislike my spelling either.
And when it comes to nicknames... I tend to go by Susanna. My family have all kinds of nicknames for me, but I don't like the standard Sue or Suze or Susie, and I've found that I don't actually have all that many issues with people calling me them. I introduce myself as Susanna, and people usually call me Susanna. Sometimes they ask if I have a nickname, and I politely explain that I don't like the standard Susanna nicknames. I've had the very rare odd person not be okay with that, most people don't care either way. Equally, most people don't call me Susie or whatever without asking about nicknames - those who do, I either let it go (even though it's a bit rude to just use a nickname without asking the person imho) or, if I end up knowing them better, I find a way to let them know that I prefer just being called Susanna without putting their nose out of joint. Either way (apart from family nicknames) socially and professionally, I manage to go by Susanna most of the time.
This message was edited 7/12/2017, 3:20 PM
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I know a 27 year old British Susanna. :)
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I like Susannah. Well, I like them both, but with the h is my preference.
Of course you don't have to use Sue or Susie. but you really cannot control what other family members or friends will use. Or what your daughter might want to be called. Maybe she will love Susie.
Nope, I'm not a meanings person, so I would never have known the meanings were the same. I think Lily and Susanna are fine together.
Of course you don't have to use Sue or Susie. but you really cannot control what other family members or friends will use. Or what your daughter might want to be called. Maybe she will love Susie.
Nope, I'm not a meanings person, so I would never have known the meanings were the same. I think Lily and Susanna are fine together.
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Susannah (only with the 'h') is my top name. I love it so much. Without the 'h' the name doesn't look balanced to me. I think Sue and Susie are avoidable. Sue is so absolutely hideous. I like the name in full or with the nickname Annie.
I don't think Lily and Susanna are too much for sisters. Nobody who isn't a namenerd is going to know the meaning of Susanna. I also sorta like the combo Lily Susannah, now that I think about it. I love first names ending in -ee with Susannah as a middle name.
I don't think Lily and Susanna are too much for sisters. Nobody who isn't a namenerd is going to know the meaning of Susanna. I also sorta like the combo Lily Susannah, now that I think about it. I love first names ending in -ee with Susannah as a middle name.
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I prefer Susanna. I like the name. I think it's a step up from being boring and too dated because it has a certain charm, but it's not a favourite. I think it would be really cute to see on a little girl, but I probably wouldn't use it myself.
Hard to say with nicknames... I think Susie is more likely to happen than Sue, without you encouraging either. If you always use the full form, most others are likely to as well, and it's also likely the child would end up preferring the full form too, but you never know.
I think Lily and Susanna are fine as sisters :) The names don't sound alike and most people aren't super into looking up meanings of names (or they're bad at it anyway and use poor sources).
Hard to say with nicknames... I think Susie is more likely to happen than Sue, without you encouraging either. If you always use the full form, most others are likely to as well, and it's also likely the child would end up preferring the full form too, but you never know.
I think Lily and Susanna are fine as sisters :) The names don't sound alike and most people aren't super into looking up meanings of names (or they're bad at it anyway and use poor sources).
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Susannah is a family name, so I'd never really consider Susanna, though it's got a good Mozart pedigree!
I agree that Susie is preferable to Sue. Where I live, Susannah tends to shorten to San, which is pronounced pretty much like Sun.
I don't think most people would think twice about Lily and Susanna(h) as a sibset. Sad, but true.
Might you consider Suzanne? With a respectful nod to Leonard Cohen?
I agree that Susie is preferable to Sue. Where I live, Susannah tends to shorten to San, which is pronounced pretty much like Sun.
I don't think most people would think twice about Lily and Susanna(h) as a sibset. Sad, but true.
Might you consider Suzanne? With a respectful nod to Leonard Cohen?
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I love both (and would use the name if my DH didn't dislike it). I slightly prefer the Susanna spelling as to me it feels less Biblical/religious for some reason, and it reminds me of Shakespeare as he had a daughter named Susanna.
I really like Susie but I think it is avoidable. The one Susanna I know goes by Ani, so Annie could be an alternative nn.
I really like Susie but I think it is avoidable. The one Susanna I know goes by Ani, so Annie could be an alternative nn.
This message was edited 7/12/2017, 6:18 AM
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I prefer Susannah - it looks more complete
I think Sue is totally avoidable - it's very old fashioned and I don't think many people would auto-shorten to it. Susie, you might have to be a bit firm about...
Susannah/Susanna was quite popular around the time I was born. Of several I know, 2 always go by their full name, 1 is Susie and 2 others are Zannah & Sanna
Lily & Susanna sound so completly different I can't see it would be a problem
I think Sue is totally avoidable - it's very old fashioned and I don't think many people would auto-shorten to it. Susie, you might have to be a bit firm about...
Susannah/Susanna was quite popular around the time I was born. Of several I know, 2 always go by their full name, 1 is Susie and 2 others are Zannah & Sanna
Lily & Susanna sound so completly different I can't see it would be a problem
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I love both, but slightly prefer the Susannah spelling.
I hesitate to say that any nickname is completely unavoidable, simply because I've known people who always want to shorten a name and/or use a nickname. In fact, Sue and Susie are the reasons I would not have used Susannah. I don't really hate either nickname, but Susan was very popular at the time I was born, so I grew up with a lot of girls called Sue, therefore, it seems too ubiquitous to me.
I hesitate to say that any nickname is completely unavoidable, simply because I've known people who always want to shorten a name and/or use a nickname. In fact, Sue and Susie are the reasons I would not have used Susannah. I don't really hate either nickname, but Susan was very popular at the time I was born, so I grew up with a lot of girls called Sue, therefore, it seems too ubiquitous to me.
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