Shannon

Shannon - A very unique female name

Shannon appeared on the charts for the first time in 1922 on position #2081. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Shannon and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Shannon? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Shannon. The baby girl name Shannon was given to 29 baby girls in 2025, ranking #2545 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 44,947 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Shannon peaked in popularity 50 years ago in 1976 on position 17.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Shannon, 1-5?

Shannon is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Shannon is currently topping the baby name charts in Massachusetts at position #862 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #3,239.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Shannon is where you live.

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Shannon origin and meaning

Irish, from the River Shannon

From the River Shannon; the river's name is traditionally linked to the goddess Sionann and an old Irish word for 'old, wise'

Shannon takes its name from Ireland's longest river, and for girls it was an American giant of the 1970s, peaking in 1970 at over 13,500 births. It has fallen steadily since and now sits far down the ranks, given to just 29 girls in 2025. That arc makes it a name many mothers and grandmothers carry, now rarely passed on.

Attested etymology

Shannon is a 7 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Shannon, pop culture references for the name Shannon and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Shannon

We've found the following names that sound similar to Shannon, sorted by popularity.

Susan / Suzanne / Sonia / Sonya / Shawna / Sienna / Shawn / Shana / Shanna / Shauna /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Shannon

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Shannon a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Shannon?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

SHAN-un · /ˈʃænən/

Around the world

• Sionainn (Irish) — The Irish form of the river and goddess name behind Shannon.

Spellings and nicknames

• Shanon — A one-n variant spelling.
• Shanna — A shortened form used as a name in its own right.

Nicknames: Shan

Famous bearers

• Shannon Miller — Olympic gymnast, among the most decorated American gymnasts of the 1990s (b. 1977) Contemporary
• Shannon Elizabeth — Actress known for American Pie (b. 1973) Contemporary

Style

Place nameInternational

Why parents choose it

Today Shannon reads as a retro choice — familiar to everyone, carried by almost no babies, which is exactly its appeal for some families.

Worth knowing

• Its 1970s peak means many hear it as a parent's name, not a child's.