Find out how popular the first name Shoshanna has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Shoshanna by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Shoshanna is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 7 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Shoshanna.

The history of the first name Shoshanna

The name Shoshanna is derived from the Hebrew language and has its origins in the ancient Near East. It is a feminine form of the biblical name Susanna, which means "lily" or "rose" in Hebrew. The name is believed to have first appeared in the Old Testament's Book of Daniel, where it refers to a virtuous woman who was falsely accused of adultery.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shoshanna can be found in the Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism. Here, it is mentioned as the name of a woman who lived during the 2nd century CE in the Land of Israel. The name was likely in use among Jewish communities in the region during this time period.

In the Middle Ages, the name Shoshanna was relatively uncommon but can be found in some historical records from Jewish communities in Europe and the Middle East. One notable example is Shoshanna of Würzburg, a 13th-century Jewish mystic and poet from Germany.

During the Renaissance and Early Modern period, the name gained some popularity among Jewish communities in Europe and the Ottoman Empire. A well-known figure from this time was Shoshanna Shochet, a 16th-century Jewish scholar and poet from the Ottoman Empire who wrote extensively in Hebrew and Ladino.

In the 19th century, the name Shoshanna became more widespread among Jews in Eastern Europe, particularly in areas like Poland and Russia. One famous bearer of the name was Shoshanna Persitz, a 19th-century Yiddish writer and activist from Russia who advocated for women's rights and secular education.

Another notable figure was Shoshanna Shoenburg, a 20th-century Israeli artist and sculptor who was born in Poland in 1900 and later immigrated to Mandatory Palestine. Her works often depicted scenes from the Bible and Jewish folklore.

As the name Shoshanna has Hebrew origins, it has remained popular among Jewish communities around the world, particularly in Israel and other parts of the Middle East. However, it has also been adopted by non-Jewish families in various countries, drawn to its unique sound and meaning.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Shoshanna was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Shoshanna, please contact us.

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