Shona
Shona is a girl's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
God is gracious.
Origin and history
Shona is an Anglicized form of Seònaid, the Scottish Gaelic equivalent of Janet or Joan. It ultimately traces back to the Hebrew name John, meaning 'God is gracious'. While popular in Scotland and the UK in the mid-to-late 20th century, it remains a rare choice in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
2,414 babies in the United States have been named Shona since 1880. It ranks #3593 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2090.
States where it is most popular
- CA (26.1 %)
- TX (16.3 %)
- NY (9.5 %)
- OH (8.6 %)
- PA (5.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 13 |
| 1950-1960 | 104 |
| 1960-1970 | 602 |
| 1970-1980 | 958 |
| 1980-1990 | 409 |
| 1990-2000 | 174 |
| 2000-2010 | 106 |
| 2010-2019 | 37 |
| 2020-2029 | 11 |
Famous people named Shona
- Shona Laing: singer, songwriter
Fun facts
- Shona originated in Scotland as an Anglicization of Seònaid, the Gaelic equivalent of Joan or Janet.
- The name reached high popularity in Britain and Scotland during the 1960s and 1970s, though it remained rare in the U.S.