Shannah: 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	6	1	–	#4,471
1950s	10	1	+67%	#6,857
1960s	106	11	+960%	#2,243
1970s	346	35	+226%	#1,932
1980s	382	38	+10%	#2,211
1990s	341	34	-11%	#2,713
2000s	162	16	-52%	#4,666
2010s	25	3	-85%	#12,979
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

#4,471

1950s

+67%

#6,857

1960s

106

+960%

#2,243

1970s

346

+226%

#1,932

1980s

382

+10%

#2,211

1990s

341

-11%

#2,713

2000s

162

-52%

#4,666

2010s

-85%

#12,979

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Shannah

Shannah 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 1945, 1,378 American babies have been named Shannah. Its peak came in 1978, when 51 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 Shannah stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shannah?

The median living Shannah is about 40 years old; half are between 31 and 48. An estimated 1,300 people named Shannah 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.

Shannah 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	7	#14,337
2013	8	#12,979
2012	5	#19,127
2011	5	#19,130
2010	–	–
2009	8	#13,500
2008	16	#8,053
2007	14	#8,934
2006	10	#11,292
2005	19	#6,496
2004	8	#12,570
2003	18	#6,532
2002	19	#6,089
2001	26	#4,666
2000	24	#4,954
1995	35	#3,277
1990	41	#2,842
1985	36	#2,694
1980	46	#2,211
1975	30	#2,603
1970	30	#2,507
1965	5	#7,336
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	6	#4,471
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Shannah?

The median living Shannah is about 40 years old. Half of all living Shannahs are between 31 and 48 years old.

How many people named Shannah are alive today?

An estimated 1,300 people named Shannah are alive in the United States, based on 1,378 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Shannah in 2025?

Shannah 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 Shannah?

1,378 babies have been named Shannah in the United States since 1945, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shannah most popular?

Shannah peaked in 1978, when 51 newborns received the name.

Is Shannah a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Shannah rising or falling?

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

Shannah

Shannah popularity over time

The story of Shannah

How old are people named Shannah?

Shannah year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Shannah