Shontell
An English feminine name, perhaps a variation of Chantal.
Name Census estimates that about 609 living Americans carry the first name Shontell. It is a predominantly female name (99.1% of registrations). The average person named Shontell today is around 44 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shontell births was 1977 (38 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shontell. 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
609
~ 1 in 562,815 Americans
Peak year
1977
38 babies that year
Average age
44
years old
1976 SSA rank
#5,499
Tracked since 1967
Gender
Gender distribution for Shontell
Out of the 658 babies given the name Shontell since 1880, 99.1% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Shontell as a male name
- Ranked #5,499 in 1976
- 6 male births in 1976
- Peak: 1976 (6 births)
Shontell as a female name
- Ranked #16,560 in 2012
- 6 female births in 2012
- Peak: 1977 (38 births)
Popularity
Shontell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shontell from the 1960s through to the 2010s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 289 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
Shontell 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 Shontell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Shontells live
Origin
Meaning and history of Shontell
The name Shontell is believed to have originated from the French language, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old French word "shaun," which means "gracious" or "blessed." This name was initially popular in regions of France, particularly in the northern regions, during the 12th and 13th centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shontell can be found in the ancient manuscripts of the Benedictine monks, where it was used to refer to a young woman who had dedicated her life to serving the church. The name gained popularity among the French nobility and was often bestowed upon daughters born into prestigious families.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shontell. One such individual was Shontell de Valois, a French noblewoman who lived during the 14th century and was renowned for her philanthropic efforts and patronage of the arts. Another prominent figure was Shontell de Montfort, a fierce warrior who fought alongside her husband during the Albigensian Crusade in the early 13th century.
In the realm of literature, the name Shontell appears in various medieval French texts and poems, often associated with virtues such as grace, beauty, and kindness. One notable example is the epic poem "Le Roman de la Rose," where a character named Shontell is portrayed as a symbol of true love and devotion.
During the Renaissance period, the name Shontell gained further recognition, particularly in the works of French playwrights and poets. Shontell de Ronsard, a celebrated poet of the 16th century, was known for her lyrical verses that celebrated the beauty of nature and the complexities of human emotion.
As the name Shontell spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Shontelle, Shontel, and Shontelle. However, the core meaning and essence of the name remained consistent, reflecting the concept of grace and blessedness.
It is worth noting that these five historical figures – Shontell de Valois, Shontell de Montfort, the character from "Le Roman de la Rose," Shontell de Ronsard, and the Benedictine nun – are among the most prominent individuals who carried the name Shontell throughout history, each leaving an indelible mark in their respective fields and eras.
People
Shontell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shontell 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
Shontell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shontell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 609 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shontell 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 562,815 US residents.
Is Shontell a common name?
We classify Shontell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 658 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shontell most popular?
The single biggest year for Shontell was 1977, when 38 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shontell is about 44 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shontell a female name?
Yes, 99.1% of people registered as Shontell 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.