Holding steady.
Popularity of Shawndra since 1962
Babies named Shawndra per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 89 |
| 1970s | 264 |
| 1980s | 215 |
| 1990s | 85 |
| 2000s | 24 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Shawndra is a modern feminine elaboration of Shawn, a name that emerged in the mid-20th century. It first appeared in U.S. Social Security records in 1962 and reached its highest recorded usage in 1974, during the height of the trend for creative name forms ending in -dra. Despite this peak, the name has remained relatively rare, with no data since 2025 showing a rank in the top 1000. Its trajectory indicates stable, infrequent usage rather than a resurgence. The name reflects a broader cultural pattern of adapting Irish-rooted names into distinctly feminine versions, fitting alongside similar coinages like Kendra and Xandra.
Shawndra is a modern feminine elaboration of Shawn, itself an Anglicized form of the Irish name Seán, derived from the Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious.' The suffix -dra follows a pattern fashionable in the mid-20th century for creating distinctly feminine forms (e.g., Xandra, Kendra). The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1962, with its peak usage in 1974, reflecting the era's trend of inventing personalized variations of established names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Shawn, Shawnie, Andra, Dre
Sibling names for Shawndra
Names that share Shawndra's style, for a brother or sister.
