Total births
5,162
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.
- 5,162
- total births
- 1950–2012
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 42%
- born in that 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.
- 5,162 total births
- 1950–2012 years on record
- 1970s peak decade
- 42% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
5,162 girls have been named Shannan since 1950, peaking in the 1970s, last recorded in 2012.
- 5,162
- total births
- 1950–2012
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 42%
- born in that decade
1970s
Peak decade
42% of everyone ever named Shannan was born in this single decade.
1969
Single peak year
284 babies were named Shannan in 1969 - its busiest year on record.
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 at a glance
Last recorded 2012Peak year
1969
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1950
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
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
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 vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
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% |
California share of Shannan's total US births 11.7%
Even split
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? ▼
5,162 babies have been named Shannan since 1950. It was last recorded in 2012. The peak year was 1969 with 284 births.
When was Shannan most popular? ▼
Shannan was most popular in the 1970s decade with 2,161 total births. The single peak year was 1969.
Where is Shannan most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Shannan are California (602 births), Texas (307 births), Pennsylvania (235 births).
Is Shannan a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Shannan is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 5,162 births, and as a boy's name it has 317 births.
How long has the name Shannan been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Shannan since 1950 -- 63 years through the most recent 2012 data.
What names are similar to Shannan? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Sharon, Shannon, Shawna, Shari, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
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
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare 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
Sharon Girl
#1224 723,024 births
Shannon Girl
#1874 295,782 births
Shawna Girl
#6004 45,531 births
Shari Girl
#13636 40,927 births
Shawn Girl
#7307 33,055 births
Compare Shannan side by side: Shannan vs Sharon Shannan vs Shannon Shannan vs Shawna
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Shannan: Baby Name Since 1950 - 5,162 Births, Peak 1969." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/shannan. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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 July 2026.