Find out how popular the first name Shanon has been for the last 46 years (from 1974 to 2019) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Shanon by gender

Based on the last 46 years of data, Shanon is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 74% of people named Shanon being female.

For the most recent data in 2019, there were 6 male babies and 5 female babies born with the name Shanon.

It's also interesting to see that despite Shanon being historically a mostly female name, the most recent data from 2019 shows a shift in the trend, with more male babies being named Shanon.

The history of the first name Shanon

The name Shanon is believed to have its origins in the Irish Gaelic language, derived from the word "Seanhán" which means "old" or "ancient." It is a variation of the more common Irish name "Seán" (John in English), with the addition of the diminutive suffix "-án."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shanon can be traced back to the 16th century, when it was used as a variant spelling of the name "Seanhán" in medieval Irish manuscripts. This suggests that the name has a long history in Irish culture and tradition.

While the name Shanon does not appear to have any direct references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is possible that its roots can be traced back to early Irish folklore and oral traditions, where names often held significant cultural and symbolic meanings.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shanon. One of the earliest recorded examples is Shanon O'Byrne, an Irish chieftain who lived in the late 16th century and was involved in the Irish Confederate Wars against English rule.

Another notable Shanon was Shanon Curry (1705-1765), an Irish-American surveyor and explorer who played a significant role in the early settlement of Pennsylvania and helped map the region's territories.

In the 19th century, Shanon Peckham (1824-1901) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

The name also gained prominence in the literary world with Shanon Messenger (1891-1967), an American poet and novelist known for her works exploring themes of nature and spirituality.

More recently, Shanon Lucio (born 1975) is an American singer and songwriter who has achieved success in the country music genre, with several chart-topping hits and multiple Grammy nominations.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have carried the name Shanon throughout history, spanning various fields and cultures.

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 Shanon was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!