Shoshanna is the Biblical Hebrew form of Susanna, derived from the Hebrew word shoshan meaning "lily" (in modern Hebrew also "rose"). The name ultimately traces back to the Egyptian word sšn for "lotus".EtymologyThe Hebrew name שׁוֹשַׁנָּה (Shoshanna) entered Greek as Σουσάννα (Sousanna) and Latin as Susanna. In the Old Testament Apocrypha, a woman named Susanna is falsely accused of adultery, but the prophet Daniel proves her innocence. The name also appears in the New Testament as a follower of Jesus. Despite these biblical references, the name became common in English only after the Protestant Reformation, often spelled Susan.Usage and variantsShoshanna is the original Hebrew form and remains popular among Jewish communities and in modern Israel, often shortened to Shosh or Shoshi. The name has spawned numerous variants across languages: Susanna (Latin/Ukrainian), Suzana (Slovene), Sawsan (Arabic), Shushan (Armenian), and Shushanik (Armenian).Cultural significanceIn Ethiopian Orthodox tradition, the name appears as Sosie, Sosina, or Sosena. Notable bearers include Austrian painter Soshana Afroyim, who adopted the name during a stay in Israel, and Israeli politician Shoshana Arbeli-Almozlino.Meaning: Lily, rose, lotusOrigin: HebrewType: First nameUsage regions: Israel, Jewish diaspora, Ethiopia