Total births
5,172
Unisex name · since 1950
Shon
Since 1950, U.S. Social Security records show 5,172 babies named Shon, peaking in 1971. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #6898
- among boys today
- 5,172
- born since 1950
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 52%
- more common than other boys
5,172 babies have been named Shon since 1950, making it today's #6898 unisex name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shon has been recorded 5,172 times among boys since 1950, currently ranked #6898 nationally and more common than 52% of boys, 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 2025.
- #6898 among boys today
- 5,172 born since 1950
- 1970s peak decade
- 52% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Shon is currently the #6898 unisex name in America, more common than 52% of boys - 5,172 born since 1950, peaking in the 1970s.
- #6898
- among boys today
- 5,172
- born since 1950
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 52%
- more common than other boys
Shon vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#6898
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 52% of names given to boys today.
1970s
Peak decade
40% of everyone ever named Shon was born in this single decade.
1971
Single peak year
301 babies were named Shon in 1971 - its busiest year on record.
How Shon compares
5,172 Top 12% higher than 88% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Shon's all-time total is 14x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Shon | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 5,172 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 301 | 23 | 22,252 |
Shon's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Shon's SSA record in two at 1989 and the more recent half accounts for 29% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 71%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1953, with only 6 births recorded -- set against the 1971 peak of 301, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Shon at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1971
Current rank
#6,898
Active since
1950
Shon popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1950–2025
- Peak year (1971)
- 301
- Annual births at peak, across 76 years of records
Shon popularity over time - girls
358 total births recorded since 1956 (Shon as girls' name)
Shon by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1970s was Shon's strongest decade.
2,051 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 40% of all-time use.
Shon births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 87
1950s
87 births
- 1960s
1960s
940 births
- 1970s
1970s
2,051 births
- 1980s 691
1980s
691 births
- 1990s 685
1990s
685 births
- 2000s 424
2000s
424 births
- 2010s 209
2010s
209 births
- 2020s 85
2020s
85 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 2,051 births (40% of all-time use).
How Shon compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Shon's total volume
Shon vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Shon by state
Where Shon concentrates geographically, total births since 1950
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 619 | 12.0% |
| #2 | Texas | | 301 | 5.8% |
| #3 | Ohio | | 177 | 3.4% |
| #4 | New York | | 115 | 2.2% |
| #5 | Missouri | | 101 | 2.0% |
| #6 | Michigan | | 97 | 1.9% |
| #7 | Georgia | | 92 | 1.8% |
| #8 | Illinois | | 92 | 1.8% |
California share of Shon's total US births 12.0%
Even split
619 of 5,172 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 36 reporting states.
Shon appears in 36 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Shon? ▼
5,172 babies have been named Shon since 1950. It currently ranks #6898 among boys. The peak year was 1971 with 301 births.
When was Shon most popular? ▼
Shon was most popular in the 1970s decade with 2,051 total births. The single peak year was 1971.
Where is Shon most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Shon are California (619 births), Texas (301 births), Ohio (177 births).
Is Shon a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Shon is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 5,172 births, and as a girl's name it has 358 births.
How long has the name Shon been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Shon since 1950 -- 76 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Shon? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Sholom, Shomari, Shourya, Sho, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Shon's data
- Shon's decade-level peak was the 1970s (2,051 total births); usage has since declined to 85 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Shons (619 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 Shon
Nearby Names Like Shon
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shon
Sholom Boy
#2685 1,497 births
Shomari Boy
#10125 1,129 births
Shourya Boy
#4181 506 births
Sho Boy
#8409 461 births
Shone Boy
335 births
Compare Shon side by side: Shon vs Sholom Shon vs Shomari Shon vs Shourya
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Shon
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, 1950–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Shon: #6898 Unisex Name - 5,172 Births, Peak 1971." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/shon. 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 Shon 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.