Unisex name · since 1950
Shannan
Since 1950, U.S. Social Security records show 5,162 babies named Shannan, peaking in 1969. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #2,517 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 5,162
- born since 1950
- 1970s
- peak decade
Shannan sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 5,162 recorded since 1950.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shannan has been recorded 5,162 times among girls since 1950, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1970s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1950 to 2012.
- #2,517 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 5,162 born since 1950
- 1970s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shannan ranks #2,517 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 5,162 born since 1950, peaking in the 1970s.
- #2,517 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 5,162
- born since 1950
- 1970s
- peak decade
Shannan's 5,162 recorded births place it above 96.52% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
32 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by California.
Shannan's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Shannan's SSA record in two at 1982 and the more recent half accounts for 34% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 66%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1950, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1969 peak of 284, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Shannan popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1950–2012
- Peak year (1969)
- 284
- Annual births at peak, across 63 years of records
Shannan popularity over time - boys
317 total births recorded since 1963 (Shannan as boys' name)
Shannan by decade
1970s is the heaviest window (2,161 births, 42% of the file).
1970s was Shannan's strongest decade.
2,161 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 42% of all-time use.
Shannan births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 82
1950s
82 births
- 1960s 846
1960s
846 births
- 1970s
1970s
2,161 births
- 1980s
1980s
1,204 births
- 1990s 669
1990s
669 births
- 2000s 182
2000s
182 births
- 2010s 18
2010s
18 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 2,161 births (42% of all-time use).
How Shannan compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Shannan's total volume
Shannan by state
Where Shannan concentrates geographically, total births since 1950
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 602 | 11.7% |
| #2 | Texas | | 307 | 5.9% |
| #3 | Pennsylvania | | 235 | 4.6% |
| #4 | Ohio | | 223 | 4.3% |
| #5 | New York | | 197 | 3.8% |
| #6 | Illinois | | 162 | 3.1% |
| #7 | Michigan | | 162 | 3.1% |
| #8 | Florida | | 155 | 3.0% |
602 of 5,162 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 32 reporting states.
Shannan appears in 32 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Shannan? ▼
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When was Shannan most popular? ▼
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Is Shannan a unisex name? ▼
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What to do with Shannan's data
- Shannan's decade-level peak was the 1970s (2,161 total births); usage has since declined to 18 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Shannans (602 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Shannan
Nearby Names Like Shannan
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shannan
Compare Shannan side by side: Shannan vs Sharon Shannan vs Shannon Shannan vs Shawna
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Shannan: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1969)
Similar record span (~62 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1950–2012 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Shannan draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.