Given name
Shannan
“having ancient wisdom; river name”·“having ancient wisdom”
Shannan is a variant of Shannon. Interpretations include “having ancient wisdom; river name” and “having ancient wisdom”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Shannan is a variant of Shannon. Interpretations include “having ancient wisdom; river name” and “having ancient wisdom”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1950. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Shannan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,479
- 317 boys · 5,162 girls
- Most popular year
- 1970
- 305 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 6% boys.
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 6 in 2012. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 284 in 1969. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,118 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.
Shannan’s family of names
Shannan has a related form in Shannon.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Shannan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Dianthe
“the flower of the gods”
>99% girls
Adriene
Adriene is a variant of Adria. In Greek use, Adria carries the interpretation “from the Adriatic Sea region; woman with dark features.”
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Mlissa
“resembling a flower”
>99% girls
Toinette
In French use, Toinette carries the interpretation “priceless and highly praiseworthy; a flourishing flower.”
>99% girls
Marne
“woman of the sea”
4% boys · 96% girls
Shelly
“from the bank's meadow” · “from the meadow's ledge”
>99% girls
Chalena
“resembling the beautiful and meaningful flower”
>99% girls
Lorra
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree”
>99% girls