Shaneca
Of uncertain origin, potentially derived from a Native American language.
Name Census estimates that about 72 living Americans carry the first name Shaneca. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Shaneca today is around 43 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shaneca births was 1982 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shaneca. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Shaneca. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
72
~ 1 in 4,760,477 Americans
Peak year
1982
11 babies that year
Average age
43
years old
1992 SSA rank
#11,489
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Shaneca: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shaneca from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 54 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shaneca by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Shaneca during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Shaneca
The name Shaneca is believed to have originated from the West African region, particularly among the Akan people of Ghana. It is a combination of two Akan words: "shane" meaning "grace" or "favor," and "eca" meaning "mother." The earliest recorded use of this name dates back to the late 19th century.
While the name Shaneca does not appear to have any direct references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its components reflect the cultural values and beliefs of the Akan people. The concept of "grace" or "favor" is deeply ingrained in their spiritual traditions, often associated with blessings from ancestors or deities.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Shaneca was Shaneca Owusu, a Ghanaian educator born in 1875. She was a pioneering advocate for women's education in West Africa and established several schools throughout her lifetime.
In the early 20th century, Shaneca Adjei (1901-1989) was a renowned musician and composer from Ghana. She played a significant role in preserving and promoting traditional Akan music, and her compositions are still widely performed today.
Another notable figure was Shaneca Mensah (1920-2002), a Ghanaian politician and activist who fought for women's rights and social justice. She served as a member of parliament and was instrumental in shaping various policies and initiatives aimed at empowering women.
Shaneca Boateng (1935-2018) was a celebrated Ghanaian writer and poet. Her works often explored themes of identity, culture, and the experiences of women in African society. She received numerous literary awards and accolades throughout her career.
In the realm of sports, Shaneca Addai (born 1972) is a former Ghanaian sprinter who represented her country in multiple Olympic Games. She won several medals in international competitions and is considered one of the greatest athletes in Ghana's history.
While the name Shaneca has its roots in West Africa, it has since gained popularity in various parts of the world, particularly among African diaspora communities. Its meaning and cultural significance continue to be embraced and celebrated by those who carry this name.
People
Shaneca + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shaneca as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Shaneca: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shaneca?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 72 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shaneca going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 4,760,477 US residents.
Is Shaneca a common name?
We classify Shaneca as "Very Rare". It ranks above 59.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 77 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shaneca most popular?
The single biggest year for Shaneca was 1982, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shaneca is about 43 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Shaneca in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Shaneca a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shaneca in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Shaneca still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Shaneca in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Shaneca can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Shaneca?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the name Shaneca at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.