Holding steady.
Popularity of Shannah since 1945
Babies named Shannah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 6 |
| 1950s | 10 |
| 1960s | 106 |
| 1970s | 346 |
| 1980s | 382 |
| 1990s | 341 |
| 2000s | 162 |
| 2010s | 25 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Shannah is a rare given name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1945. Its peak usage occurred in 1978, but it has never reached the top 1000, indicating consistently low popularity. The name is likely a modern English respelling of similar-sounding names like Shana or Shanna, which themselves derive from Shawna. As a stable but obscure choice, Shannah offers a distinctive sound without a clear etymological anchor. The name saw its highest use in the 1970s, though no single state recorded significant usage.
Shannah first appeared in U.S. records in 1945 and saw its highest usage in 1978. It is likely a modern coinage, perhaps a respelling of Shana (itself a variant of Shawna, a feminine form of Shawn) or an elaboration of Shan. The name is rare, with no consistent meaning beyond its sound.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Shan, Shanny
Sibling names for Shannah
Names that share Shannah's style, for a brother or sister.
