Shuan
A name of Hawaiian origin meaning "bright" or "shining".
Name Census estimates that about 165 living Americans carry the first name Shuan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Shuan today is around 46 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shuan births was 1980 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shuan. 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
165
~ 1 in 2,077,299 Americans
Peak year
1980
17 babies that year
Average age
46
years old
2001 SSA rank
#12,046
Tracked since 1966
Popularity
Shuan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shuan from the 1960s through to the 2000s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 81 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shuan 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 Shuan 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 Shuan
The name Shuan has its origins in the Gaelic language, which was spoken by the ancient Celts who inhabited parts of modern-day Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. It is believed to have emerged sometime around the 5th or 6th century AD, during the height of the Celtic cultural influence in these regions.
Shuan is derived from the Gaelic word "suan," which means "sleep" or "slumber." It was likely given as a name to signify the peaceful and tranquil nature of a child or to express a wish for the child to have a restful and serene life. The name may also have been associated with dreams or visions, as sleep was considered a gateway to the realm of the subconscious.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shuan can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled by monks in the 15th century. The annals mention a figure named Shuan mac Colmáin, who was a king of the Uí Chennselaig, a medieval Irish dynasty that ruled parts of modern-day County Wexford.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Shuan. One of the most prominent was Shuan O'Donnell, a 16th-century Irish chieftain and lord of Tyrconnell (modern-day County Donegal). He played a significant role in the Nine Years' War against English rule in Ireland, ultimately leading the Irish forces to several victories before his death in 1592.
Another historical figure named Shuan was Shuan MacFerghus, a 14th-century Scottish poet and bard who is credited with composing several works in the Gaelic language. His poetry often celebrated the natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands and the heroic deeds of clan leaders and warriors.
In the realm of religion, there was Shuan of Iona, a 7th-century Irish monk and scholar who lived and worked on the island of Iona, an important center of Celtic Christianity. He is believed to have been a skilled scribe and contributed to the preservation of ancient texts and manuscripts.
Lastly, Shuan MacCrimmon was a renowned 18th-century Scottish piper from the Isle of Skye. He was considered a master of the Highland bagpipes and is said to have composed several iconic piping tunes that are still played today in various musical traditions.
While the name Shuan may not be as common in modern times, its rich history and connections to Celtic culture and traditions continue to resonate, serving as a reminder of the enduring legacy of the ancient Gaelic peoples.
People
Shuan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shuan 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
Shuan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shuan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 165 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shuan 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 2,077,299 US residents.
Is Shuan a common name?
We classify Shuan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 176 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shuan most popular?
The single biggest year for Shuan was 1980, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shuan is about 46 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shuan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shuan 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.
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.