Shewanna
A feminine given name of unknown origin, possibly meaning "she wants".
Name Census estimates that about 29 living Americans carry the first name Shewanna. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Shewanna today is around 50 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shewanna births was 1973 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shewanna. 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 Shewanna. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
29
~ 1 in 11,819,115 Americans
Peak year
1973
7 babies that year
Average age
50
years old
1981 SSA rank
#10,210
Tracked since 1969
Popularity
Shewanna: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shewanna from the 1960s through to the 1980s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 20 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
Shewanna 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 Shewanna during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Shewanna
The name Shewanna has its origins in the Choctaw language, spoken by the Choctaw Native American tribe who inhabited the Southeastern United States. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the late 18th century. It is believed to be derived from the Choctaw words "shawi" meaning "she" and "anna" meaning "traveler" or "wanderer."
In the Choctaw culture, names often carried deep symbolic significance, reflecting the traits or journey one was meant to embody in life. The name Shewanna, therefore, may have initially referred to a woman who was destined to travel or explore new horizons.
While the name does not appear to have been prominently featured in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been borne by several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name was Shewanna Chubbee, a Choctaw woman born in the late 18th century who played a crucial role in preserving and passing down traditional Choctaw stories and folklore.
Another individual of historical significance was Shewanna Courtney (1832-1901), a Choctaw activist and educator who advocated for the rights and education of Native American children. She founded several schools and worked tirelessly to promote literacy and cultural preservation.
In the realm of literature, Shewanna Turtle (1890-1976) was a Choctaw author and poet who gained recognition for her works celebrating Choctaw heritage and traditions. Her poetry collection, "Songs of the Choctaw Trail," published in 1947, remains an important contribution to Native American literature.
The name also found its way into the world of entertainment. Shewanna Blackhorse (1922-2005) was a renowned Choctaw dancer and choreographer who dedicated her life to preserving and promoting Native American dance and culture. Her performances and teachings inspired generations of artists and helped raise awareness of Choctaw traditions.
Lastly, Shewanna Williams (1946-2018) was a Choctaw activist and community leader who fought for environmental justice and the protection of Native American lands. She played a pivotal role in campaigns against toxic waste dumping and advocated for sustainable practices within Choctaw communities.
People
Shewanna + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shewanna 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
Shewanna: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shewanna?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 29 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shewanna 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 11,819,115 US residents.
Is Shewanna a common name?
We classify Shewanna as "Very Rare". It ranks above 46% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 32 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shewanna most popular?
The single biggest year for Shewanna was 1973, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shewanna is about 50 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shewanna a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shewanna 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.