Shanai: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	14	1	–	#7,525
1980s	97	10	+593%	#5,264
1990s	129	13	+33%	#3,918
2000s	124	12	-4%	#6,180
2010s	28	3	-77%	#12,008
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

#7,525

1980s

+593%

#5,264

1990s

129

+33%

#3,918

2000s

124

-4%

#6,180

2010s

-77%

#12,008

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Shanai

Shanai is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1974, 392 American babies have been named Shanai. Its peak came in 1991, when 27 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Shanai stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shanai?

The median living Shanai is about 31 years old; half are between 21 and 36. An estimated 400 people named Shanai are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Shanai year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	5	#17,757
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	6	#16,243
2012	–	–
2011	9	#12,008
2010	8	#13,279
2009	11	#10,562
2008	12	#9,984
2007	11	#10,709
2006	12	#9,809
2005	20	#6,215
2004	20	#6,180
2003	9	#11,186
2002	9	#10,951
2001	12	#8,657
2000	8	#11,614
1995	8	#10,344
1990	19	#5,024
1985	9	#7,439
1980	6	#10,112
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Shanai, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Shanai?

The median living Shanai is about 31 years old. Half of all living Shanais are between 21 and 36 years old.

How many people named Shanai are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Shanai are alive in the United States, based on 392 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Shanai in 2025?

Shanai did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Shanai?

392 babies have been named Shanai in the United States since 1974, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shanai most popular?

Shanai peaked in 1991, when 27 newborns received the name.

Is Shanai a boy or girl name?

Shanai is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Shanai rising or falling?

Shanai is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Shanai

Shanai popularity over time

The story of Shanai

How old are people named Shanai?

Shanai year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Shanai