Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1980

Shun

Meaning Shun is a masculine Japanese given name Gender Boy · 3% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists

Shun is a masculine Japanese given name.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Shun
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1980
41 babies
All-time total
939
#5,464 all-time among boys
First recorded
1925
in Social Security records

Shun popularity over time

939 babies have been named Shun since 1925, 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
0.010.020.020.0318801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

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 Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – – – –
1890s – – – – – –
1900s – – – – – –
1910s – – – – – –
1920s – 5 5 1 – #4,784
1930s – – – – – –
1940s – – – – – –
1950s – – – – – –
1960s 9 59 68 7 – #2,121
1970s 21 280 301 30 +343% #1,325
1980s – 184 184 18 -39% #1,519
1990s – 137 137 14 -26% #3,535
2000s – 132 132 13 -4% #5,097
2010s – 92 92 9 -30% #5,437
2020s (to 2025) – 20 20 3 -64% #13,744

The story of Shun

Shun 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 1925, 939 American babies have been named Shun. Its peak came in 1980, when 41 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

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 Shun stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shun?

The median living Shun is about 41 years old; half are between 24 and 50. An estimated 900 people named Shun are alive in the United States today.

median 41 020406080100

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

Shun year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 – – 5 #13,881
2022 – – 5 #14,033
2021 – – 5 #13,792
2020 – – 5 #13,744
2019 – – 9 #8,768
2018 – – 14 #6,289
2017 – – 11 #7,469
2016 – – – –
2015 – – 7 #10,457
2014 – – 10 #8,040
2013 – – 10 #8,013
2012 – – 8 #9,574
2011 – – 6 #12,039
2010 – – 17 #5,437
2009 – – 10 #8,212
2008 – – 14 #6,349
2007 – – 15 #5,865
2006 – – 16 #5,484
2005 – – 10 #7,565
2004 – – 15 #5,449
2003 – – 14 #5,504
2002 – – 13 #5,672
2001 – – 15 #5,097
2000 – – 10 #6,756
1995 – – 19 #3,535
1990 – – 17 #3,582
1985 – – 13 #3,571
1980 – – 41 #1,519
1975 6 #8,889 24 #1,994
1970 5 #9,126 24 #1,843
1965 – – 8 #3,213
1960 – – – –
1955 – – – –
1950 – – – –
1945 – – – –
1940 – – – –
1935 – – – –
1930 – – – –
1925 – – 5 #4,784
1920 – – – –
1915 – – – –
1910 – – – –
1905 – – – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Famous people named Shun

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

  1. 1 Shun Oguri Shun Oguri Japanese actor (born 1982) Contemporary
  2. 2 Shun Takagi Japanese footballer (born 1989) Contemporary
  3. 3 Shun Nakamura Japanese footballer (born 1994) Contemporary
  4. 4 Shun Ito Japanese footballer b. 1987 · Contemporary
  5. 5 Shun Morishita Japanese footballer b. 1986 · Contemporary
  6. 6 Shun Obu Japanese footballer (born 1992) Contemporary
  7. 7 Shun Tanaka Japanese footballer b. 1988 · Contemporary
  8. 8 Shun Nogaito Japanese footballer b. 1986 · Contemporary
  9. 9 Shun Sato Japanese footballer (born 1997) Contemporary
  10. 10 Shun Kumagai Soccer player, Japan b. 1996 · Contemporary
  11. 11 Shun Aso Soccer player, Japan b. 1985 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Shun?

The median living Shun is about 41 years old. Half of all living Shuns are between 24 and 50 years old.

How many people named Shun are alive today?

An estimated 900 people named Shun are alive in the United States, based on 939 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Shun mean?

Shun is a masculine Japanese given name.

How popular is the name Shun in 2025?

Shun 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 Shun?

939 babies have been named Shun in the United States since 1925, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shun most popular?

Shun peaked in 1980, when 41 newborns received the name.

Is Shun a boy or girl name?

Shun is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 97% of babies with the name.

Is the name Shun rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Shun?

Well-known people named Shun include Shun Oguri (actor), Shun Takagi (soccer player), Shun Nakamura (soccer player).

Names like Shun

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

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