Given name & surname
Shannon
“having ancient wisdom; river name”·“having ancient wisdom”
Shannon is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “having ancient wisdom; river name” and “having ancient wisdom”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “having ancient wisdom; river name” and “having ancient wisdom”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1881. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Shannon through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 348,161
- 52,379 boys · 295,782 girls
- Most popular year
- 1970
- 16,118 babies
- 2025
- 116
- #2,405 for girls · #3,031 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −33%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 32% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 75 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,405 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 33.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 13,547 in 1970. It also appeared in 41 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (9). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 300,975 as a first name in 2020; 44,030 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Shannon’s family of names
Shannon has a related form in Shanon. Shannon has a related form in Shannan. Shannon has a related form in Shannen.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Shannon has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Irish roots to each of them.
4 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 13
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Shannon
- Shay MitchellCanadian actressborn 1987
- Shannon LucidAmerican biochemist and retired NASA astronautborn 1943
- Shannon ElizabethAmerican actressborn 1973
- Shannon LetoAmerican drummerborn 1970
- Shannon WalkerAmerican scientist and NASA astronautborn 1965
- Shannon LeeAmerican actressborn 1969
- Shannon BoxxAmerican soccer playerborn 1977
- Shannon MillerAmerican artistic gymnast (born 1977)
- Shannon TweedCanadian actress and model (born 1957)
Characters named Shannon: Shannon Rutherford (the American mystery fiction television series Lost).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Shannon, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kelly
“a lively and bright-headed woman”
21% boys · 79% girls
Tracy
“one who is warlike”
35% boys · 65% girls
Kelley
“a warrior” · “one who defends”
41% boys · 59% girls
Dara
“a wise woman” · “from the oak tree”
14% boys · 86% girls
Jamie
“she who supplants” · “he who supplants”
47% boys · 53% girls
Loren
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree” · “man from Laurentum; crowned with laurel”
40% boys · 60% girls
Fallon
“a commanding woman” · “a ruler”
8% boys · 92% girls
Mel
“a dark-skinned beauty” · “from the mill town”
42% boys · 58% girls