Shaquana
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly a variant of Shaquonda meaning "she is praised".
Name Census estimates that about 2,175 living Americans carry the first name Shaquana. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Shaquana today is around 38 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shaquana births was 1991 (209 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shaquana. 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.
People living today
2.2K
~ 1 in 157,588 Americans
Peak year
1991
209 babies that year
Average age
38
years old
2005 SSA rank
#18,723
Tracked since 1973
Popularity
Shaquana: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shaquana from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 1,022 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
Shaquana 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 Shaquana during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Shaquanas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 15 states and territories. New York, New Jersey, North Carolina recorded the most babies named Shaquana, while Texas, Massachusetts, Alabama recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 104 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Shaquana
The name Shaquana has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with its earliest roots dating back to the 7th century AD, during the time of the Islamic Golden Age. The name is derived from the Arabic word "shaqiya," which means "fortunate" or "blessed." It is believed to have been a popular name among the Arab populations of the Middle East and North Africa during this period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shaquana can be found in the writings of the renowned Arabic poet and scholar, Abu Nuwas, who lived from 756 to 814 AD. In his poetry, he mentions a woman named Shaquana, describing her as a beautiful and virtuous woman of high standing in society.
Throughout the centuries, the name Shaquana has been borne by several notable individuals. One such person was Shaquana al-Zahra, a renowned Islamic scholar and poet who lived in Cordoba, Spain, during the 10th century AD. She was known for her contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence and her beautiful poetry.
In the 12th century, there was a famous Sufi mystic named Shaquana al-Qadiri, who was born in Baghdad and traveled extensively throughout the Middle East, spreading the teachings of Sufism. She was renowned for her spiritual wisdom and her ability to perform miracles.
Another notable figure was Shaquana bint Abi Bakr, who lived in the 17th century and was a prominent female warrior and military leader in the Ottoman Empire. She played a crucial role in defending the city of Baghdad against Persian invaders and was celebrated for her bravery and tactical skills.
In the 19th century, there was a famous Egyptian novelist and feminist named Shaquana al-Naqqash, who was a pioneer in the field of Arabic literature and fought for women's rights in the Middle East. Her works were widely read and influential in shaping the discourse on gender equality during that time.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Shaquana, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and the diverse backgrounds of those who have carried this name with pride.
People
Shaquana + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shaquana 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
Shaquana: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shaquana?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2,175 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shaquana 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 157,588 US residents.
Is Shaquana a common name?
We classify Shaquana as "Rare". It ranks above 94% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,286 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shaquana most popular?
The single biggest year for Shaquana was 1991, when 209 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shaquana is about 38 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shaquana a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shaquana 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.
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.