Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Shannah isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1945. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Shannah through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,378
- 0 boys · 1,378 girls
- Most popular year
- 1978
- 51 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 7 in 2014. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 51 in 1978. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,234 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Shannah’s family of names
The ring: spellings.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Shannah, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Shona
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Sheena
“God's gracious gift”
>99% girls
Shevaun
“a humorous man”
>99% girls
Magee
“the son of Hugh”
>99% girls
Shanley
“small and ancient woman” · “an ancient hero”
>99% girls
Fina
“God will add” · “God shall add”
>99% girls
Rina
“one who sings a joyous song”
>99% girls
Orna
“one who is paleskinned” · “of the cedar tree”
>99% girls