A 1970s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Shana since 1937
Babies named Shana per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1984, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Shana's real moment was 1977.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 13 |
| 1940s | 90 |
| 1950s | 313 |
| 1960s | 2,905 |
| 1970s | 10,230 |
| 1980s | 9,957 |
| 1990s | 4,424 |
| 2000s | 1,188 |
| 2010s | 367 |
| 2020s | 148 |
Meaning & origin
Shana first appeared in U.S. records in 1937 and saw its peak popularity in 1977. The name has a 1 in 64,291 incidence in 2025, placing it at rank 5,099. After declining for decades, the name has been rising again since 2022. It was most popular in the 1970s and shows signs of revival. Top states for Shana include New Jersey and New York. The name's unclear origins add a layer of mystery, but its connection to the Irish Shannon gives it a lyrical, river-inspired feel.
Shana likely originated as a variant of Shannon, the anglicized form of the Irish river name An tSionainn. It may also be an Anglicized form of Sìne, the Scottish Gaelic form of Jane, which itself derives from the Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious.' The name gained popularity in the United States in the mid-20th century, especially during the 1970s.
Where Shana is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Shana” around the world
Where Shana lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
40
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Shana
Names that share Shana's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Shana
Names whose popularity has moved with Shana's over the last 50 years.
