Given name · also Gaelic
Shona
“God is gracious”
Shona is a variant of Shauna. In Irish use, Shauna carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Irish use, Shona carries the interpretation “God is gracious.” Shona is a variant of Shauna. In Irish use, Shauna carries the interpretation “God is gracious.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Irish.
How it developed
In Scottish use, Shona is used as a form of Gaelic. Shona is used as a form of Joan.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1943. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Shona through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,414
- 0 boys · 2,414 girls
- Most popular year
- 1970
- 160 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 6 in 2024. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 160 in 1970. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,442 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.
Shona’s family of names
Shona is a form of Joan. Shona has a related form in Shauna. Shona has a related form in Shone.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Shona
- Shona McCallinBritish field hockey player (1992-)
- Shona RobisonScottish politician (born 1966)
- Shona Rubensalpine skierborn 1986
- Shona M. BellNew Zealand palaeobotanist (1924–2011)
- Shona HeathBritish set designer and art directorborn 1974
- Shona ShukrulaDutch football refereeborn 1991
- Shona McGartyBritish actressborn 1991
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Shona, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Shawna
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Sheilagh
Sheilagh is a feminine given name from Irish.
>99% girls
Shavaughn
“God is gracious” · “one who is openminded”
6% boys · 94% girls
Shvonne
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Rhonda
“wielding a good spear”
>99% girls
Brigita
“high, exalted”
>99% girls
Sheila
“one who is blind” · “one of cool conduct and character”
>99% girls
Down
“fortress, stronghold”
>99% girls