Shannon first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Shannon has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Shannon

A unisex name of Irish origin meaning "old river".

Popularity of Shannon by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Shannon is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 88% of people named Shannon being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 96 female babies and 41 male babies born with the name Shannon.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 41 96
2022 42 107
2021 64 122
2020 70 98
2019 69 147
2018 68 148
2017 79 174
2016 78 193
2015 82 249
2014 84 257
2013 97 278
2012 95 327
2011 101 394
2010 95 417
2009 144 543
2008 150 657
2007 162 741
2006 190 919
2005 194 1,053
2004 201 1,255
2003 206 1,447
2002 234 1,757
2001 210 1,906
2000 241 2,180
1999 308 2,747
1998 271 3,278
1997 296 3,914
1996 316 4,337
1995 375 4,733
1994 403 5,508
1993 377 6,070
1992 466 5,290
1991 514 4,845
1990 520 5,189
1989 566 5,660
1988 510 6,255
1987 517 6,967
1986 571 7,404
1985 689 7,713
1984 762 8,476
1983 882 8,426
1982 1,088 8,623
1981 1,205 9,228
1980 1,329 9,668
1979 1,640 10,369
1978 1,848 10,601
1977 2,286 12,519
1976 2,611 13,370
1975 2,529 9,371
1974 2,505 10,608

The history of the first name Shannon

The given name Shannon is an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Sionainn, which means "old river" or "ancient river." It is derived from the old Irish Gaelic word "sean," meaning "old" or "ancient," and "abhainn," meaning "river." The name is closely associated with the River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland, which flows through the central plains of the country.

The name Shannon has its roots in ancient Celtic tradition and culture. It is believed to have been used as a personal name in Ireland as early as the 7th century, with some historians suggesting that it may have been used even earlier. The River Shannon itself has been an important waterway and a significant part of Irish history and mythology for centuries.

In Irish mythology, the River Shannon is personified as a goddess or a female spirit, often depicted as a beautiful woman with long flowing hair. This association with the river and its symbolic significance in Irish folklore may have contributed to the popularity of the name Shannon among the Irish people.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shannon can be found in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient Irish chronicle dating back to the 15th century. In this text, a woman named Shannon is mentioned as having lived in the 7th century.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shannon. One of the earliest was Shannon O'Toole (c. 1300-1370), an Irish chieftain and lord of Leix, who played a significant role in the resistance against English rule in Ireland during the 14th century.

Another prominent figure was Shannon Briggs (1677-1734), an Irish-born author and playwright who lived and worked in London during the early 18th century. His works, including the play "The Provoked Husband," were popular in their time and helped to establish him as a notable literary figure.

In more recent times, Shannon Lucid (born 1943) is an American biochemist and former NASA astronaut who held the record for the longest duration stay in space by an American woman, spending 188 days aboard the Mir space station in 1996.

Shannon Miller (born 1977) is an American former artistic gymnast and Olympic gold medalist, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished gymnasts in U.S. history. She won a total of seven Olympic medals, including two golds, at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.

Shannon Sharpe (born 1968) is a former American football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons, primarily with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens. He is considered one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

While the name Shannon has gained popularity in recent decades, particularly in English-speaking countries, its origins can be traced back to ancient Irish Gaelic culture and mythology, reflecting the significance of the River Shannon in Irish history and folklore.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Shannon was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Shannon, please contact us.

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"Shannon first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 5, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/shannon-meaning-and-history/.

"Shannon first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/shannon-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 5 November, 2024

Shannon first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/shannon-meaning-and-history/.

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