Shanita
A female given name originating as a coinage, of African-American usage.
Every Shanita since 1959 — 3,450 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
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.
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
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.