Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1970

Shonda

Meaning Perhaps a blend of Shona +‎ Rhonda Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists

Perhaps a blend of Shona +‎ Rhonda.

Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Shonda
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1970
510 babies
All-time total
7,444
#1,987 all-time among girls
First recorded
1954
in Social Security records

Shonda popularity over time

7,444 babies have been named Shonda since 1954, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.10.20.30.418801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1973Girls

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 111 11 – #2,110
1960s 1,390 139 +1152% #483
1970s 4,074 407 +193% #419
1980s 1,440 144 -65% #714
1990s 369 37 -74% #2,026
2000s 60 6 -84% #6,761
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Shonda

Shonda 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 1954, 7,444 American babies have been named Shonda. Its peak came in 1970, when 510 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 Shonda stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shonda?

The median living Shonda is about 51 years old; half are between 45 and 55. An estimated 7,100 people named Shonda are alive in the United States today.

median 51 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Shonda 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 5 #20,043
2007 5 #20,123
2006 9 #12,283
2005 – –
2004 8 #12,590
2003 5 #18,020
2002 7 #13,419
2001 5 #17,565
2000 16 #6,761
1995 30 #3,655
1990 67 #2,026
1985 128 #1,132
1980 235 #714
1975 441 #447
1970 510 #432
1965 117 #949
1960 41 #1,785
1955 18 #2,710
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Shonda

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Shonda Rhimes Shonda Rhimes American television producer and screenwriter (born 1970) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Shonda?

The median living Shonda is about 51 years old. Half of all living Shondas are between 45 and 55 years old.

How many people named Shonda are alive today?

An estimated 7,100 people named Shonda are alive in the United States, based on 7,444 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Shonda mean?

Perhaps a blend of Shona +‎ Rhonda.

How popular is the name Shonda in 2025?

Shonda 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 Shonda?

7,444 babies have been named Shonda in the United States since 1954, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shonda most popular?

Shonda peaked in 1970, when 510 newborns received the name.

Is Shonda a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Shonda rising or falling?

Shonda has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Shonda?

Well-known people named Shonda include Shonda Rhimes (producer).

Names like Shonda

Names that sound and feel close to Shonda: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Shonda with similar names → More names starting with S →