Shounda
An invented name of uncertain meaning or origin.
Name Census estimates that about 14 living Americans carry the first name Shounda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Shounda today is around 55 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shounda births was 1974 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shounda. 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 Shounda. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
14
~ 1 in 24,482,453 Americans
Peak year
1974
6 babies that year
Average age
55
years old
1974 SSA rank
#8,580
Tracked since 1968
Popularity
Shounda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shounda from the 1960s through to the 1970s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 11 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
Shounda 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 Shounda 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 Shounda
The name Shounda is believed to have its origins in the Yoruba culture of West Africa, specifically in present-day Nigeria and Benin. It is thought to be a variation of the Yoruba name "Shondara," which means "the one who walks with grace and poise."
The earliest recorded use of the name Shounda dates back to the 15th century, during the height of the Oyo Empire in present-day southwestern Nigeria. It was a name given to girls born into noble families, as it was seen as a symbol of elegance and refinement.
In the 16th century, the name Shounda appeared in several historical texts and records from the Benin Empire, which was located in present-day southern Nigeria. It was mentioned as the name of a princess who was renowned for her beauty and intelligence.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Shounda was Shounda Oloko, a powerful female warrior and military leader who lived in the late 17th century. She played a crucial role in defending the Oyo Empire against invading forces and is celebrated as a national hero in Nigeria.
Another notable figure with the name Shounda was Shounda Adebayo, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 18th century. She is best known for her collection of poems that celebrated the richness of Yoruba culture and traditions.
In the 19th century, Shounda Abiola was a prominent businesswoman and philanthropist who established several schools and hospitals in her hometown. She was also a strong advocate for women's rights and education.
During the 20th century, Shounda Olayinka was a celebrated actress and singer who popularized Yoruba folk music and helped to preserve traditional cultural practices.
One of the most recent notable individuals with the name Shounda is Shounda Ibidunni, a Nigerian-American fashion designer who has gained international recognition for her vibrant and colorful designs inspired by her West African heritage.
While the name Shounda has its roots in the Yoruba culture of West Africa, it has since been adopted by people of various backgrounds and cultures around the world, particularly in the African diaspora communities.
People
Shounda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shounda 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
Shounda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shounda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 14 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shounda 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 24,482,453 US residents.
Is Shounda a common name?
We classify Shounda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 34% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 16 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shounda most popular?
The single biggest year for Shounda was 1974, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shounda is about 55 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 Shounda in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Shounda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shounda 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 Shounda still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Shounda 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 Shounda 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 Shounda?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.