Declining since 1985, #11,932 for girls today.
Popularity of Shanna since 1931
Babies named Shanna per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 75 |
| 1940s | 230 |
| 1950s | 533 |
| 1960s | 2,418 |
| 1970s | 9,812 |
| 1980s | 10,129 |
| 1990s | 3,586 |
| 2000s | 1,212 |
| 2010s | 231 |
| 2020s | 58 |
Meaning & origin
Shanna first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1931, but its use remained very limited for decades. The name reached its peak popularity in 1978, but since 1985 it has been in steady decline. As of 2025, it ranks #11,932, with a 1-in-229,610 birth rate, indicating it is now rarely chosen. While it has no dominant top states, it fits alongside other Irish-derived feminized forms from that era. Shanna is a name that feels distinctly tied to the late 20th century, particularly the 1970s, a decade when similar names like Shauna and Shawna also saw their highest usage.
Shanna is a modern English variant of Shawna, itself a feminine form of Shawn, the Irish form of John. Ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning 'Yahweh is gracious'. The name gained modest popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly in the United States.
Where Shanna 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.
“Shanna” around the world
Where Shanna lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
45
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sha, Shanny, Anna
Sibling names for Shanna
Names that share Shanna's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Shanna
Names whose popularity has moved with Shanna's over the last 50 years.
