Shonna

Meaning & origin

Shonna is a feminine given name that emerged in the United States as a phonetic spelling of Shawna, which itself is a feminization of Shawn. Shawn is the anglicized form of the Irish name Seán, the Irish equivalent of John, meaning 'God is gracious'. The name first appeared on record in 1942, but saw its most notable use during the 1970s. Its peak year was 1977, after which usage declined. The trajectory has remained stable for decades, with very few births per year. The name is essentially unseen in today's top rankings, reflecting a long-term decline in favor for this particular spelling. Shonna is one of many Irish-derived feminine names that enjoyed mid-century popularity in the United States, alongside Shawna, Shauna, and Shanna.

Shonna is a modern phonetic spelling of Shawna, a feminine form of Shawn, which derives from the Irish name Seán. Seán is the Irish version of John, ultimately from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning 'God is gracious'. The name emerged in the United States mid-20th century as part of a trend of creating feminine variants of Irish male names, such as Shawna and Shanna. Shonna saw modest use from the 1940s through the 1970s, with its peak in 1977.