Shannon
Shannon is a boy's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Old river, wise river, or possessor of wisdom.
Origin and history
Shannon is derived from the River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland, named after the ancient river goddess Sionann. Although historically used for both boys and girls in the United States, it gained significant popularity for males in the mid-to-late 20th century. Today, it remains a well-known, traditional unisex name with deep Celtic roots.
Popularity in the United States
52,379 babies in the United States have been named Shannon since 1880. It ranks #495 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1616.
States where it is most popular
- TX (8.7 %)
- CA (7.1 %)
- OH (5.2 %)
- GA (4.6 %)
- IL (4.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 11 |
| 1890-1900 | 5 |
| 1900-1910 | 30 |
| 1910-1920 | 185 |
| 1920-1930 | 254 |
| 1930-1940 | 297 |
| 1940-1950 | 596 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,444 |
| 1960-1970 | 9,851 |
| 1970-1980 | 24,649 |
| 1980-1990 | 8,119 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,846 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,932 |
| 2010-2019 | 849 |
| 2020-2029 | 311 |
Famous people named Shannon
- Shannon Sharpe: Football Player, Television Presenter
- Shannon Hoon: Singer, Songwriter
Nicknames
Shan, Shann
Fun facts
- The name comes from the River Shannon (Sionann), which flows over 220 miles through western Ireland.
- While used predominantly for girls in the late 20th century, over 50,000 U.S. males have also been given the name since 1880.