Total births
1,921
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.
- 1,921
- total births
- 1961–2023
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 51%
- born in that 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.
- 1,921 total births
- 1961–2023 years on record
- 1990s peak decade
- 51% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,921 girls have been named Shannen since 1961, peaking in the 1990s, last recorded in 2023.
- 1,921
- total births
- 1961–2023
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 51%
- born in that decade
1990s
Peak decade
51% of everyone ever named Shannen was born in this single decade.
1993
Single peak year
216 babies were named Shannen in 1993 - its busiest year on record.
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 at a glance
Last recorded 2023Peak year
1993
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1961
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
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
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 vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
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% |
California share of Shannen's total US births 11.6%
Even split
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
How popular is the name Shannen? ▼
1,921 babies have been named Shannen since 1961. It was last recorded in 2023. The peak year was 1993 with 216 births.
When was Shannen most popular? ▼
Shannen was most popular in the 1990s decade with 979 total births. The single peak year was 1993.
Where is Shannen most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Shannen are California (222 births), New York (127 births), Pennsylvania (52 births).
Is Shannen a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Shannen is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 1,921 births, and as a boy's name it has 150 births.
How long has the name Shannen been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Shannen since 1961 -- 63 years through the most recent 2023 data.
What names are similar to Shannen? ▼
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 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
- 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 Shannen
Nearby Names Like Shannen
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shannen
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 Shannen side by side: Shannen vs Sharon Shannen vs Shannon Shannen 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, 1961–2023 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Shannen: Baby Name Since 1961 - 1,921 Births, Peak 1993." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/shannen. 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 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 July 2026.