Shontaye
An invented modern name derived from the French word "chanter" meaning "to sing".
Name Census estimates that about 33 living Americans carry the first name Shontaye. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Shontaye today is around 42 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shontaye births was 1988 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shontaye. 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 Shontaye. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
33
~ 1 in 10,386,495 Americans
Peak year
1988
8 babies that year
Average age
42
years old
1989 SSA rank
#14,235
Tracked since 1975
Popularity
Shontaye: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shontaye from the 1970s through to the 1980s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 24 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shontaye 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 Shontaye 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 Shontaye
The name Shontaye has its origins in the African American community, emerging in the late 20th century as a creative and unique variation of more traditional names. It does not seem to have a direct linguistic origin or translation, but rather was formed through a blending of sounds and syllables popular in contemporary African American naming traditions.
While the name itself is relatively modern, its roots can be traced back to the rich cultural heritage of African Americans, who have long embraced the practice of creating distinctive names that reflect their identity and experiences. The rising popularity of unique names in the latter half of the 20th century coincided with the Civil Rights Movement and a growing sense of pride and self-expression within the African American community.
Historically, there are no recorded instances of the name Shontaye being used in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or significant historical records. However, it has gained recognition in more recent times, with several notable individuals bearing this name.
One of the earliest documented examples of the name Shontaye can be found in the case of Shontaye Blount (born in 1981), an American professional basketball player who competed in various international leagues throughout her career. Another individual named Shontaye Curry (born in 1983) gained recognition as an American singer and songwriter, known for her work in the gospel and contemporary Christian music genres.
In the world of literature, Shontaye Hawkins (born in 1985) is an American author and educator who has written several acclaimed books for children and young adults, exploring themes of identity, diversity, and empowerment.
The name Shontaye has also been associated with individuals in the fields of business and entrepreneurship, such as Shontaye Hurston (born in 1979), an American business executive and philanthropist who has been recognized for her work in promoting diversity and inclusion in the corporate world.
Lastly, Shontaye Savage (born in 1990) is an American actress and model who has appeared in various television shows and films, showcasing the growing visibility and representation of the name in popular culture.
While these examples provide a glimpse into the individuals who have carried the name Shontaye throughout history, it is important to note that the name's significance lies not only in its uniqueness but also in its connection to the rich cultural heritage and ongoing journey of African Americans.
People
Shontaye + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shontaye 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
Shontaye: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shontaye?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 33 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shontaye 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 10,386,495 US residents.
Is Shontaye a common name?
We classify Shontaye as "Very Rare". It ranks above 48% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 35 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shontaye most popular?
The single biggest year for Shontaye was 1988, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shontaye is about 42 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 Shontaye in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Shontaye a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shontaye 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.
Is Shontaye still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Shontaye 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 Shontaye 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 people are called Shontaye?
Want to know how many people share the name Shontaye? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.