Shanan: 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	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1950s	10	–	10	1	–	#6,565
1960s	116	14	130	13	+1200%	#1,803
1970s	365	84	449	45	+245%	#1,734
1980s	178	12	190	19	-58%	#2,910
1990s	76	13	89	9	-53%	#7,952
2000s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

#6,565

1960s

116

130

+1200%

#1,803

1970s

365

449

+245%

#1,734

1980s

178

190

-58%

#2,910

1990s

-53%

#7,952

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Shanan

Shanan 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 1955, 868 American babies have been named Shanan, about 86% girls and 14% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1970, when 58 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

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 Shanan stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shanan?

The median living Shanan is about 49 years old; half are between 43 and 54. An estimated 800 people named Shanan 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.

Shanan year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	8	#10,345	–	–
1990	9	#9,107	–	–
1985	15	#5,040	7	#5,673
1980	24	#3,484	5	#7,128
1975	32	#2,499	14	#2,881
1970	53	#1,734	5	#5,326
1965	9	#4,770	–	–
1960	6	#6,271	–	–
1955	5	#6,565	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Shanan?

The median living Shanan is about 49 years old. Half of all living Shanans are between 43 and 54 years old.

How many people named Shanan are alive today?

An estimated 800 people named Shanan are alive in the United States, based on 868 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Shanan in 2025?

Shanan 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 Shanan?

868 babies have been named Shanan in the United States since 1955, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shanan most popular?

Shanan peaked in 1970, when 58 newborns received the name.

Is Shanan a boy or girl name?

Shanan is used for both: about 86% of babies named Shanan have been girls and 14% boys.

Is the name Shanan rising or falling?

Shanan has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Shanan

Shanan popularity over time

The story of Shanan

How old are people named Shanan?

Shanan year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Shanan