Total births
2,853
Girls' name · since 1960
Shawanda
Shawanda has 2,853 recorded births since 1960 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1977 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 2,853
- total births
- 1960–2007
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 45%
- born in that decade
Shawanda sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 2,853 recorded since 1960.
Social Security Administration records show Shawanda recorded 2,853 times among girls since 1960, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1970s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1960 to 2007.
- 2,853 total births
- 1960–2007 years on record
- 1970s peak decade
- 45% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
2,853 girls have been named Shawanda since 1960, peaking in the 1970s, last recorded in 2007.
- 2,853
- total births
- 1960–2007
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 45%
- born in that decade
1970s
Peak decade
45% of everyone ever named Shawanda was born in this single decade.
1977
Single peak year
186 babies were named Shawanda in 1977 - its busiest year on record.
Shawanda's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Shawanda's SSA record in two at 1982 and the more recent half accounts for 38% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 62%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1963, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1977 peak of 186, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Shawanda at a glance
Last recorded 2007Peak year
1977
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1960
Shawanda popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1960–2007
- Peak year (1977)
- 186
- Annual births at peak, across 48 years of records
Shawanda by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1970s was Shawanda's strongest decade.
1,279 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 45% of all-time use.
Shawanda births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 189
1960s
189 births
- 1970s
1970s
1,279 births
- 1980s
1980s
1,001 births
- 1990s 357
1990s
357 births
- 2000s 27
2000s
27 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 1,279 births (45% of all-time use).
How Shawanda 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 Shawanda's total volume
Shawanda vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Shawanda by state
Where Shawanda concentrates geographically, total births since 1960
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisiana | | 352 | 12.3% |
| #2 | Georgia | | 285 | 10.0% |
| #3 | Mississippi | | 241 | 8.4% |
| #4 | Florida | | 208 | 7.3% |
| #5 | New York | | 155 | 5.4% |
| #6 | Alabama | | 139 | 4.9% |
| #7 | Illinois | | 117 | 4.1% |
| #8 | North Carolina | | 108 | 3.8% |
Louisiana share of Shawanda's total US births 12.3%
Even split
352 of 2,853 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 17 reporting states.
Shawanda appears in 17 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Shawanda? ▼
Shawanda has been given to 2,853 babies in the U.S. since 1960, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2007. 186 babies were born in 1977, its single highest year.
When was Shawanda most popular? ▼
Shawanda was most popular in the 1970s decade with 1,279 total births. The single peak year was 1977.
Where is Shawanda most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Shawanda are Louisiana (352 births), Georgia (285 births), Mississippi (241 births).
How long has the name Shawanda been used? ▼
Shawanda has been recorded in Social Security data since 1960, spanning 48 years of data through 2007.
What names are similar to Shawanda? ▼
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 Shawanda's data
- Shawanda's decade-level peak was the 1970s (1,279 total births); usage has since declined to 27 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Louisiana records the most Shawandas (352 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Louisiana 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 Shawanda
Nearby Names Like Shawanda
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shawanda
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 Shawanda side by side: Shawanda vs Sharon Shawanda vs Shannon Shawanda vs Shawna
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 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, 1960–2007 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Shawanda: Baby Name Since 1960 - 2,853 Births, Peak 1977." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/shawanda. 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 Shawanda 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 June 2026.