Total births
5,112
Girls' name · since 1958
Shanta
Since 1958, U.S. Social Security records show 5,112 babies named Shanta, peaking in 1978. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 5,112
- total births
- 1958–2014
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 40%
- born in that decade
Shanta is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 5,112 have been recorded since 1958.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shanta has been recorded 5,112 times among girls since 1958, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1980s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1958 to 2014.
- 5,112 total births
- 1958–2014 years on record
- 1980s peak decade
- 40% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
5,112 girls have been named Shanta since 1958, peaking in the 1980s, last recorded in 2014.
- 5,112
- total births
- 1958–2014
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 40%
- born in that decade
1980s
Peak decade
40% of everyone ever named Shanta was born in this single decade.
1978
Single peak year
360 babies were named Shanta in 1978 - its busiest year on record.
Shanta's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Shanta's full recorded timeline at 1986, 29% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 71% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 1958, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1978 peak of 360 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Shanta at a glance
Last recorded 2014Peak year
1978
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1958
Shanta popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1958–2014
- Peak year (1978)
- 360
- Annual births at peak, across 57 years of records
Shanta popularity over time - boys
142 total births recorded since 1971 (Shanta as boys' name)
Shanta by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Shanta's strongest decade.
2,026 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 40% of all-time use.
Shanta births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 5
1950s
5 births
- 1960s 302
1960s
302 births
- 1970s
1970s
1,985 births
- 1980s
1980s
2,026 births
- 1990s 646
1990s
646 births
- 2000s 129
2000s
129 births
- 2010s 19
2010s
19 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 2,026 births (40% of all-time use).
How Shanta 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 Shanta's total volume
Shanta vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Shanta by state
Where Shanta concentrates geographically, total births since 1958
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 363 | 7.1% |
| #2 | Illinois | | 360 | 7.0% |
| #3 | New York | | 330 | 6.5% |
| #4 | Georgia | | 318 | 6.2% |
| #5 | North Carolina | | 226 | 4.4% |
| #6 | Mississippi | | 222 | 4.3% |
| #7 | California | | 213 | 4.2% |
| #8 | Florida | | 193 | 3.8% |
Texas share of Shanta's total US births 7.1%
Even split
363 of 5,112 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 25 reporting states.
Shanta appears in 25 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Shanta? ▼
5,112 babies have been named Shanta since 1958. It was last recorded in 2014. The peak year was 1978 with 360 births.
When was Shanta most popular? ▼
Shanta was most popular in the 1980s decade with 2,026 total births. The single peak year was 1978.
Where is Shanta most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Shanta are Texas (363 births), Illinois (360 births), New York (330 births).
How long has the name Shanta been used? ▼
Records for Shanta go back to 1958, giving 57 years of history through 2014.
What names are similar to Shanta? ▼
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 Shanta's data
- Shanta's decade-level peak was the 1980s (2,026 total births); usage has since declined to 19 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Shantas (363 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas 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 Shanta
Nearby Names Like Shanta
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shanta
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 Shanta side by side: Shanta vs Sharon Shanta vs Shannon Shanta 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, 1958–2014 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Shanta: Baby Name Since 1958 - 5,112 Births, Peak 1978." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/shanta. 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 Shanta 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.