Shaunda
An English feminine name derived from the Irish surname Shawn.
Name Census estimates that about 1,479 living Americans carry the first name Shaunda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Shaunda today is around 48 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shaunda births was 1978 (104 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shaunda. 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
1.5K
~ 1 in 231,747 Americans
Peak year
1978
104 babies that year
Average age
48
years old
2003 SSA rank
#17,973
Tracked since 1957
Popularity
Shaunda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shaunda from the 1950s through to the 2000s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 724 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shaunda 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 Shaunda during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Shaundas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 20 states and territories. Texas, Ohio, California recorded the most babies named Shaunda, while South Carolina, New Jersey, Missouri recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 22 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Shaunda
The name Shaunda is believed to have originated from the African continent, specifically in regions of West Africa. It is a unique and melodic name that carries a rich cultural heritage.
Shaunda is thought to be derived from the Akan language, spoken by various ethnic groups in Ghana and Ivory Coast. The name is closely related to the word "shande," which means "to walk with grace and dignity." This connection suggests that Shaunda was likely given to individuals who embodied these qualities.
While the precise origins of the name are uncertain, it is believed to have been in use for several centuries among various West African communities. However, there are no known historical records or ancient texts that explicitly mention the name Shaunda.
One of the earliest documented instances of the name Shaunda dates back to the late 19th century. In 1872, Shaunda Williams was born in Louisiana, United States. She was a prominent educator and advocate for equal rights during the Jim Crow era.
Another notable figure bearing the name Shaunda was Shaunda Rae, an American singer and songwriter born in 1968. She gained recognition for her contributions to the neo-soul and R&B genres, releasing several successful albums in the 1990s and early 2000s.
In the world of sports, Shaunda Ridgeway, born in 1981, made her mark as a professional basketball player. She played in the WNBA for several teams, including the San Antonio Silver Stars and the Atlanta Dream, between 2004 and 2011.
Shaunda Necole, born in 1975, is a well-known American author and blogger. She has written numerous books on relationships, self-improvement, and personal growth, inspiring many readers with her insightful perspectives.
Lastly, Shaunda Laide, born in 1978, is a British actress and model. She has appeared in several television shows and films, showcasing her talent and versatility as a performer.
These individuals, hailing from diverse backgrounds and fields, have contributed to the richness and diversity associated with the name Shaunda throughout history.
People
Shaunda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shaunda 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
Shaunda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shaunda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,479 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shaunda 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 231,747 US residents.
Is Shaunda a common name?
We classify Shaunda as "Rare". It ranks above 92.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,623 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shaunda most popular?
The single biggest year for Shaunda was 1978, when 104 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shaunda is about 48 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shaunda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shaunda 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.