Unisex name · since 1961
Shannen
Since 1961, U.S. Social Security records show 1,921 babies named Shannen, peaking in 1993. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #4,821 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 1,921
- born since 1961
- 1990s
- peak decade
Shannen is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 1,921 have been recorded since 1961.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shannen has been recorded 1,921 times among girls since 1961, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1990s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1961 to 2023.
- #4,821 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 1,921 born since 1961
- 1990s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shannen ranks #4,821 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,921 born since 1961, peaking in the 1990s.
- #4,821 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 1,921
- born since 1961
- 1990s
- peak decade
Shannen's 1,921 recorded births place it above 93.33% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
16 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by California.
Shannen's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Shannen's SSA record in two at 1989 and the more recent half accounts for 70% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 30%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1964, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1993 peak of 216, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Shannen popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1961–2023
- Peak year (1993)
- 216
- Annual births at peak, across 63 years of records
Shannen popularity over time - boys
150 total births recorded since 1966 (Shannen as boys' name)
Shannen by decade
1990s is the heaviest window (979 births, 51% of the file).
1990s was Shannen's strongest decade.
979 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 51% of all-time use.
Shannen births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 77
1960s
77 births
- 1970s 251
1970s
251 births
- 1980s 269
1980s
269 births
- 1990s
1990s
979 births
- 2000s 311
2000s
311 births
- 2010s 29
2010s
29 births
- 2020s 5
2020s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 979 births (51% of all-time use).
How Shannen 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 Shannen's total volume
Shannen by state
Where Shannen concentrates geographically, total births since 1961
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 222 | 11.6% |
| #2 | New York | | 127 | 6.6% |
| #3 | Pennsylvania | | 52 | 2.7% |
| #4 | Florida | | 45 | 2.3% |
| #5 | Texas | | 43 | 2.2% |
| #6 | New Jersey | | 39 | 2.0% |
| #7 | Michigan | | 30 | 1.6% |
| #8 | Illinois | | 29 | 1.5% |
222 of 1,921 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 16 reporting states.
Shannen appears in 16 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
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When was Shannen most popular? ▼
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What to do with Shannen's data
- Shannen's decade-level peak was the 1990s (979 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Shannens (222 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 Shannen
Nearby Names Like Shannen
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shannen
Compare Shannen side by side: Shannen vs Sharon Shannen vs Shannon Shannen 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 Shannen: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1993)
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, 1961–2023 (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 Shannen 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.