Shona: 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	13	1	–	#4,193
1950s	104	10	+700%	#2,331
1960s	602	60	+479%	#942
1970s	958	96	+59%	#847
1980s	409	41	-57%	#1,393
1990s	174	17	-57%	#3,507
2000s	106	11	-39%	#7,113
2010s	37	4	-65%	#10,337
2020s (to 2025)	11	2	-50%	#15,024

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

#4,193

1950s

104

+700%

#2,331

1960s

602

+479%

#942

1970s

958

+59%

#847

1980s

409

-57%

#1,393

1990s

174

-57%

#3,507

2000s

106

-39%

#7,113

2010s

-65%

#10,337

2020s (to 2025)

-50%

#15,024

The story of Shona

Shona 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 1943, 2,414 American babies have been named Shona. Its peak came in 1970, when 160 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 Shona stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shona?

The median living Shona is about 51 years old; half are between 43 and 56. An estimated 2,300 people named Shona 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.

Shona 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	6	#15,024
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	5	#17,336
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	5	#18,493
2015	7	#14,297
2014	7	#14,348
2013	–	–
2012	11	#10,337
2011	7	#14,632
2010	–	–
2009	10	#11,355
2008	11	#10,694
2007	7	#15,251
2006	11	#10,512
2005	14	#8,267
2004	10	#10,573
2003	7	#13,632
2002	9	#10,977
2001	12	#8,668
2000	15	#7,113
1995	13	#6,982
1990	31	#3,507
1985	30	#3,072
1980	90	#1,393
1975	66	#1,542
1970	160	#847
1965	57	#1,483
1960	24	#2,501
1955	12	#3,550
1950	6	#5,223
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Shona?

The median living Shona is about 51 years old. Half of all living Shonas are between 43 and 56 years old.

How many people named Shona are alive today?

An estimated 2,300 people named Shona are alive in the United States, based on 2,414 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Shona mean?

A female given name from Scottish Gaelic.

How popular is the name Shona in 2025?

Shona 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 Shona?

2,414 babies have been named Shona in the United States since 1943, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shona most popular?

Shona peaked in 1970, when 160 newborns received the name.

Is Shona a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Shona rising or falling?

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

Shona

Shona popularity over time

The story of Shona

How old are people named Shona?

Shona year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Shona