Shaunta
An American feminine name of uncertain origin, potentially a combination of sounds.
Name Census estimates that about 1,145 living Americans carry the first name Shaunta. It is a predominantly female name (97.0% of registrations). The average person named Shaunta today is around 44 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shaunta births was 1979 (123 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shaunta. 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
1.1K
~ 1 in 299,349 Americans
Peak year
1979
123 babies that year
Average age
44
years old
1980 SSA rank
#4,873
Tracked since 1966
Gender
Gender distribution for Shaunta
Shaunta leans heavily female at 97.0% of total registrations, but 37 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Shaunta as a male name
- Ranked #4,873 in 1980
- 8 male births in 1980
- Peak: 1978 (11 births)
Shaunta as a female name
- Ranked #14,910 in 2006
- 7 female births in 2006
- Peak: 1979 (115 births)
Popularity
Shaunta: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shaunta from the 1960s through to the 2000s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 585 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
Shaunta 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 Shaunta during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Shauntas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 14 states and territories. Illinois, Texas, Ohio recorded the most babies named Shaunta, while Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 25 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Shaunta
The name Shaunta has its origins in the Sanskrit language of ancient India, dating back to around the 5th century BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "shanti," which means peace, tranquility, or calmness. The name is believed to have been first used in Hindu families, possibly as a way to bestow blessings of peace and serenity upon their newborn children.
In the early centuries after its inception, the name Shaunta was primarily found in Hindu religious texts and scriptures, often used as a reference to the state of inner peace and spiritual enlightenment sought by practitioners of yoga and meditation. It was also occasionally used as a name for female characters in ancient Indian folktales and stories, representing qualities of gentleness and composure.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shaunta can be traced back to the 7th century CE, when a renowned female Sanskrit scholar and poet from the Deccan region of India was known by this name. She was celebrated for her contributions to the field of literature and her mastery of the Sanskrit language.
During the medieval period, the name Shaunta gained popularity among Hindu communities across the Indian subcontinent. It was particularly favored by families belonging to the Brahmin caste, who valued the name's association with spiritual serenity and wisdom.
In the 12th century, a notable figure named Shaunta was a revered guru and spiritual teacher in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. She was renowned for her teachings on the path to inner peace and self-realization, attracting many disciples who sought her guidance.
Another significant bearer of the name Shaunta was a 16th-century Rajput princess from the kingdom of Mewar in present-day Rajasthan. She was known for her courage and resilience during times of conflict, as well as her patronage of the arts and literature.
In the 19th century, a distinguished female scholar and social reformer from Bengal, India, was named Shaunta. She played a crucial role in advocating for women's education and empowerment, challenging traditional societal norms and paving the way for future generations of educated and independent women.
While the name Shaunta has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has also found its way into other cultures and regions over time, often adapted to fit local linguistic patterns and pronunciations. However, its core meaning and association with peace and tranquility have remained largely intact, making it a name that resonates with those seeking a sense of inner calm and harmony.
People
Shaunta + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shaunta 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
Shaunta: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shaunta?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,145 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shaunta 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 299,349 US residents.
Is Shaunta a common name?
We classify Shaunta as "Rare". It ranks above 90.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,230 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shaunta most popular?
The single biggest year for Shaunta was 1979, when 123 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shaunta is about 44 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shaunta a female name?
Yes, 97.0% of people registered as Shaunta 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.