MallowbyNames

Shantea

shan-TAY-uh · Of uncertain origin, likely a modern invented name blending the sound of names like Shannon or Shawn with the fashionable suffix -tea (or -tia).

Peak popularity
1991
Usually for
Girls
Trend
Holding steady

Holding steady.

Popularity of Shantea since 1974

Babies named Shantea per year in U.S. Social Security records.

71421198020002020Most births 1991Girls
Data table (by decade)
DecadeGirls
1970s29
1980s99
1990s87
2000s0
2010s0
2020s0

Meaning & origin

Shantea is a modern invented name that first appeared in U.S. Social Security records in 1974, representative of the creative name-building trends of the late 20th century. Its peak usage occurred in 1991, though it has never been common enough to enter the national top 1,000. The name's trajectory has been stable, with very few births each year, reflecting its status as a highly individual choice. It is predominantly used for girls, and its novel construction from familiar phonetic elements places it within a tradition of African American name innovation.

Shantea is a modern coinage that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1974. It is typical of the creative name formations popular in African American communities during the late 20th century, where familiar sounds from names like Shawna or Latisha were combined with a distinctive ending. The name has never ranked among the top 1,000 names nationally, reflecting its status as a rare and individualized choice.

Nicknames & variants

Nicknames: Shan, Tea, Tia

Variants: Shantia, Shante, Shanta

Sibling names for Shantea

Names that share Shantea's style, for a brother or sister.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

S is for Shantea, our favorite little girl.

S is for Shantea…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Shantea's letter becomes Shantea's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Shantea's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does the name Shantea mean?
Shantea is considered a modern invented name with no established meaning. It likely originated as a creative combination of sounds from names like Shannon or Shawn, combined with the trendy suffix -tea.
How popular is the name Shantea currently?
Shantea has never ranked among the top 1,000 girls' names in the United States. Its peak usage was in 1991, but it remains a rare name with fewer than five births per year in recent decades.
Is Shantea a boy's or girl's name?
Shantea is almost exclusively used as a girl's name, consistent with its phonetic pattern and the feminine suffix -ea.