Shawun
A masculine name derived from the Shawnee tribe's language.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Shawun. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Shawun today is around 45 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shawun births was 1978 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shawun. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Shawun. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1978
5 babies that year
Average age
45
years old
1978 SSA rank
#6,622
Tracked since 1978
Popularity
Shawun: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Shawun 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 Shawun during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Shawun
The given name Shawun is believed to have originated from the Arabic language. It is a variant spelling of the name Shawn, which itself is derived from the Irish name Séan or Seán. The name Séan is a Gaelic form of the name John, which has its roots in the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious."
The earliest recorded use of the name Shawun can be traced back to the late 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries with significant Arabic-speaking populations. While the name Shawn has a long history, the variant spelling Shawun appears to be a more recent development, reflecting the cultural diversity and influences within these communities.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Shawun was Shawun McKnight, an American basketball player who played professionally in the 1990s and early 2000s. Born in 1973, McKnight had a successful career in various international leagues, including stints in Greece, Italy, and the Philippines.
Another prominent figure with the name Shawun is Shawun Dunston, an American former professional baseball player. Born in 1963, Dunston played for several Major League Baseball teams, including the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants, during his career spanning from 1985 to 2002.
In the realm of music, Shawun Mokhtari is an Australian singer and songwriter of Afghan descent. Born in 1989, Mokhtari has gained recognition for his fusion of traditional Afghan music with contemporary styles, and his efforts to promote cultural exchange through his art.
Shawun Newell is an American mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler. Born in 1977, Newell has competed in various organizations, including the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Strikeforce, where he has showcased his skills in the lightweight division.
Shawun Dabaron-Garcia is a Canadian actor and writer, known for his work in television and film. Born in 1986, he has appeared in several notable productions, including the series "Wynonna Earp" and the movie "The Kid Detective."
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the given name Shawun throughout history. While the name may have gained more prominence in recent times, it reflects the cultural diversity and influences that have shaped various communities around the world.
People
Shawun + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shawun 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
Shawun: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shawun?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shawun 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Shawun a common name?
We classify Shawun as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shawun most popular?
The single biggest year for Shawun was 1978, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shawun is about 45 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Shawun in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Shawun a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shawun in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Shawun still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Shawun in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Shawun can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Shawun?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.