Shanita: 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	6	1	–	#6,110
1960s	96	10	+1500%	#2,498
1970s	996	100	+938%	#816
1980s	1,636	164	+64%	#851
1990s	625	63	-62%	#1,182
2000s	91	9	-85%	#6,172
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

#6,110

1960s

+1500%

#2,498

1970s

996

100

+938%

#816

1980s

1,636

164

+64%

#851

1990s

625

-62%

#1,182

2000s

-85%

#6,172

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Shanita

Shanita 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 1959, 3,450 American babies have been named Shanita. Its peak came in 1978, when 184 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 Shanita stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shanita?

The median living Shanita is about 42 years old; half are between 36 and 47. An estimated 3,300 people named Shanita 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.

Shanita 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	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	10	#11,471
2007	7	#15,230
2006	7	#14,897
2005	10	#10,798
2004	10	#10,559
2003	8	#12,225
2002	8	#12,011
2001	13	#8,114
2000	18	#6,172
1995	45	#2,724
1990	145	#1,182
1985	172	#924
1980	175	#879
1975	109	#1,081
1970	38	#2,150
1965	5	#7,335
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Shanita?

The median living Shanita is about 42 years old. Half of all living Shanitas are between 36 and 47 years old.

How many people named Shanita are alive today?

An estimated 3,300 people named Shanita are alive in the United States, based on 3,450 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Shanita mean?

A female given name originating as a coinage, of African-American usage.

How popular is the name Shanita in 2025?

Shanita 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 Shanita?

3,450 babies have been named Shanita in the United States since 1959, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shanita most popular?

Shanita peaked in 1978, when 184 newborns received the name.

Is Shanita a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Shanita rising or falling?

Shanita has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Shanita

Shanita popularity over time

The story of Shanita

How old are people named Shanita?

Shanita year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Shanita