Shannon
Shannon is a girl's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Wise river or possessor of wisdom, named after the river goddess Sionann.
Origin and history
Shannon is derived from the Irish River Shannon, known in Irish as Sionainn, which is linked to the name of the Celtic goddess Sionann. Historically used as both a masculine and feminine name, it surged in popularity for U.S. females in the late 20th century. Today, it remains a familiar traditional name, though it is used less frequently for modern newborns.
Popularity in the United States
295,782 babies in the United States have been named Shannon since 1880. It ranks #130 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1497.
States where it is most popular
- CA (11.1 %)
- NY (5.9 %)
- TX (5.6 %)
- PA (5 %)
- OH (5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 15 |
| 1920-1930 | 112 |
| 1930-1940 | 372 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,557 |
| 1950-1960 | 6,100 |
| 1960-1970 | 33,850 |
| 1970-1980 | 113,793 |
| 1980-1990 | 78,420 |
| 1990-2000 | 45,912 |
| 2000-2010 | 12,458 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,586 |
| 2020-2029 | 607 |
Famous people named Shannon
- Shannon Miller: Gymnast, Olympic Athlete
- Shannon Elizabeth: Actress, Model
- Shannon Woodward: Actress
Nicknames
Shan, Shann
Fun facts
- The name directly honors the River Shannon, which is the longest river in the British Isles.
- Shannon ranked among the top 25 most popular names for U.S. baby girls throughout the 1970s.