Fun Facts About the Name Shannon
- An established favorite: Shannon held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 30 consecutive years, from 1968 through 1997.
- A favorite of earlier generations: Shannon appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 3 years. Its last run lasted 1 consecutive years, from 1976 through 1976.
- More than 348 thousand babies named Shannon: U.S. records list 348,162 babies given the name Shannon from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 52,377 boys received the name Shannon - about 1 boy for every 6 girls.
What Does the Name Shannon Mean?
Shannon is an Irish name taken from the River Shannon, called an tSionainn in Irish and Sinann in older Irish. Its literal meaning is uncertain. A common explanation connects it with Old Irish sen, meaning 'old', giving a sense such as 'old river' or 'old one'. The meaning 'wise river' is sometimes given because of the Irish story of Sionann and the well of wisdom, but that is a symbolic association rather than a securely documented translation.
Shannon Name History & Origins
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland. In Irish it is an tSionainn; older Irish texts use Sinann. Irish tradition tells of Sionann, a woman who went to Connla's Well, a source of knowledge, and drowned when its waters rose; the river was said to take her name. This is a traditional origin story, not a record of the name's earliest use.
The river name was also adopted as an English surname, and by the 19th century Shannon was in use as a given name in the English-speaking world. It is used for both boys and girls. The name also appears in the place name Shannon, a town in County Clare near the river's estuary.
How Popular is the Name Shannon?
Shannon recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1970. Shannon ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1972 through 1973, then returned in 1976 and remained through 1976.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,405 | 75 | 0.0047% |
| 2024 | #1,873 | 107 | 0.0066% |
| 2023 | #2,047 | 96 | 0.0060% |
| 2022 | #1,883 | 108 | 0.0066% |
| 2021 | #1,708 | 122 | 0.0074% |
| 2020 | #1,955 | 98 | 0.0061% |
| 2019 | #1,493 | 147 | 0.0088% |
| 2018 | #1,487 | 148 | 0.0087% |
| 2017 | #1,338 | 174 | 0.0101% |
| 2016 | #1,266 | 193 | 0.0109% |
| 2015 | #1,061 | 249 | 0.0140% |
| 2014 | #1,016 | 257 | 0.0144% |
| 2013 | #917 | 278 | 0.0158% |
| 2012 | #825 | 327 | 0.0186% |
| 2011 | #707 | 394 | 0.0224% |
| 2010 | #686 | 418 | 0.0235% |
| 2009 | #562 | 543 | 0.0296% |
| 2008 | #482 | 657 | 0.0347% |
| 2007 | #437 | 741 | 0.0385% |
| 2006 | #357 | 919 | 0.0483% |
| 2005 | #303 | 1,053 | 0.0570% |
| 2004 | #256 | 1,255 | 0.0684% |
| 2003 | #227 | 1,447 | 0.0792% |
| 2002 | #184 | 1,757 | 0.0978% |
| 2001 | #171 | 1,906 | 0.1059% |
| 2000 | #152 | 2,180 | 0.1200% |
| 1999 | #118 | 2,747 | 0.1549% |
| 1998 | #104 | 3,278 | 0.1855% |
| 1997 | #85 | 3,914 | 0.2249% |
| 1996 | #80 | 4,337 | 0.2474% |
| 1995 | #73 | 4,733 | 0.2691% |
| 1994 | #60 | 5,508 | 0.3084% |
| 1993 | #53 | 6,069 | 0.3355% |
| 1992 | #66 | 5,290 | 0.2869% |
| 1991 | #71 | 4,844 | 0.2583% |
| 1990 | #68 | 5,189 | 0.2733% |
| 1989 | #61 | 5,660 | 0.3070% |
| 1988 | #56 | 6,255 | 0.3512% |
| 1987 | #45 | 6,968 | 0.4008% |
| 1986 | #44 | 7,403 | 0.4315% |
| 1985 | #41 | 7,714 | 0.4483% |
| 1984 | #37 | 8,476 | 0.5034% |
| 1983 | #38 | 8,425 | 0.5043% |
| 1982 | #38 | 8,623 | 0.5092% |
| 1981 | #32 | 9,227 | 0.5532% |
| 1980 | #29 | 9,670 | 0.5824% |
| 1979 | #25 | 10,370 | 0.6460% |
| 1978 | #22 | 10,599 | 0.6919% |
| 1977 | #19 | 12,519 | 0.8165% |
| 1976 | #17 | 13,369 | 0.9125% |
| 1975 | #21 | 9,370 | 0.6427% |
| 1974 | #18 | 10,608 | 0.7228% |
| 1973 | #22 | 9,803 | 0.6723% |
| 1972 | #22 | 10,966 | 0.7209% |
| 1971 | #21 | 12,647 | 0.7601% |
| 1970 | #22 | 13,547 | 0.7749% |
| 1969 | #31 | 10,452 | 0.6196% |
| 1968 | #53 | 6,402 | 0.3903% |
| 1967 | #101 | 3,445 | 0.2087% |
| 1966 | #120 | 2,991 | 0.1768% |
| 1965 | #144 | 2,570 | 0.1456% |
| 1964 | #170 | 2,299 | 0.1213% |
| 1963 | #186 | 2,053 | 0.1065% |
| 1962 | #231 | 1,394 | 0.0709% |
| 1961 | #252 | 1,234 | 0.0611% |
| 1960 | #288 | 1,012 | 0.0501% |
| 1959 | #282 | 1,007 | 0.0498% |
| 1958 | #325 | 824 | 0.0410% |
| 1957 | #340 | 709 | 0.0347% |
| 1956 | #332 | 692 | 0.0345% |
| 1955 | #336 | 643 | 0.0329% |
| 1954 | #369 | 558 | 0.0287% |
| 1953 | #384 | 492 | 0.0262% |
| 1952 | #412 | 419 | 0.0226% |
| 1951 | #431 | 374 | 0.0208% |
| 1950 | #408 | 382 | 0.0223% |
| 1949 | #496 | 267 | 0.0156% |
| 1948 | #563 | 219 | 0.0129% |
| 1947 | #519 | 256 | 0.0144% |
| 1946 | #642 | 152 | 0.0097% |
| 1945 | #686 | 119 | 0.0091% |
| 1944 | #684 | 120 | 0.0090% |
| 1943 | #636 | 143 | 0.0102% |
| 1942 | #671 | 126 | 0.0093% |
| 1941 | #796 | 83 | 0.0069% |
| 1940 | #846 | 72 | 0.0063% |
| 1939 | #875 | 65 | 0.0059% |
| 1938 | #964 | 55 | 0.0050% |
| 1937 | #939 | 55 | 0.0052% |
| 1936 | #1,289 | 32 | 0.0031% |
| 1935 | #1,300 | 32 | 0.0031% |
| 1934 | #1,162 | 38 | 0.0036% |
| 1933 | #1,360 | 29 | 0.0029% |
| 1932 | #1,626 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1931 | #1,418 | 28 | 0.0026% |
| 1930 | #2,289 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1929 | #1,883 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1928 | #2,176 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1927 | #3,530 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1926 | #3,022 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1925 | #2,755 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1924 | #3,351 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1923 | #3,095 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1922 | #2,466 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1921 | #5,019 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #5,456 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1918 | #5,477 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1912 | #3,366 | 5 | 0.0009% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,031 | 41 | 0.0024% |
| 2024 | #2,618 | 51 | 0.0030% |
| 2023 | #2,991 | 42 | 0.0025% |
| 2022 | #2,991 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 2021 | #2,216 | 64 | 0.0037% |
| 2020 | #2,042 | 70 | 0.0041% |
| 2019 | #2,105 | 69 | 0.0038% |
| 2018 | #2,096 | 68 | 0.0037% |
| 2017 | #1,868 | 79 | 0.0043% |
| 2016 | #1,900 | 78 | 0.0041% |
| 2015 | #1,824 | 82 | 0.0043% |
| 2014 | #1,778 | 85 | 0.0044% |
| 2013 | #1,600 | 97 | 0.0051% |
| 2012 | #1,633 | 95 | 0.0050% |
| 2011 | #1,563 | 101 | 0.0053% |
| 2010 | #1,650 | 95 | 0.0050% |
| 2009 | #1,248 | 144 | 0.0073% |
| 2008 | #1,186 | 150 | 0.0074% |
| 2007 | #1,119 | 162 | 0.0078% |
| 2006 | #979 | 190 | 0.0092% |
| 2005 | #913 | 194 | 0.0097% |
| 2004 | #873 | 201 | 0.0101% |
| 2003 | #844 | 206 | 0.0104% |
| 2002 | #744 | 234 | 0.0121% |
| 2001 | #801 | 210 | 0.0108% |
| 2000 | #723 | 241 | 0.0123% |
| 1999 | #602 | 308 | 0.0160% |
| 1998 | #646 | 271 | 0.0142% |
| 1997 | #598 | 296 | 0.0157% |
| 1996 | #577 | 316 | 0.0167% |
| 1995 | #524 | 375 | 0.0197% |
| 1994 | #505 | 403 | 0.0209% |
| 1993 | #528 | 377 | 0.0192% |
| 1992 | #465 | 466 | 0.0233% |
| 1991 | #435 | 514 | 0.0254% |
| 1990 | #429 | 520 | 0.0253% |
| 1989 | #389 | 566 | 0.0283% |
| 1988 | #387 | 510 | 0.0266% |
| 1987 | #373 | 517 | 0.0277% |
| 1986 | #337 | 571 | 0.0310% |
| 1985 | #295 | 689 | 0.0373% |
| 1984 | #274 | 763 | 0.0423% |
| 1983 | #246 | 882 | 0.0492% |
| 1982 | #220 | 1,088 | 0.0600% |
| 1981 | #207 | 1,205 | 0.0673% |
| 1980 | #184 | 1,328 | 0.0744% |
| 1979 | #158 | 1,639 | 0.0952% |
| 1978 | #143 | 1,849 | 0.1126% |
| 1977 | #120 | 2,286 | 0.1391% |
| 1976 | #98 | 2,611 | 0.1664% |
| 1975 | #101 | 2,530 | 0.1620% |
| 1974 | #101 | 2,505 | 0.1593% |
| 1973 | #100 | 2,636 | 0.1691% |
| 1972 | #94 | 3,013 | 0.1858% |
| 1971 | #106 | 3,008 | 0.1701% |
| 1970 | #128 | 2,571 | 0.1383% |
| 1969 | #129 | 2,373 | 0.1327% |
| 1968 | #159 | 1,704 | 0.0980% |
| 1967 | #198 | 1,171 | 0.0671% |
| 1966 | #204 | 1,157 | 0.0649% |
| 1965 | #243 | 938 | 0.0504% |
| 1964 | #281 | 758 | 0.0380% |
| 1963 | #318 | 626 | 0.0308% |
| 1962 | #350 | 503 | 0.0243% |
| 1961 | #436 | 335 | 0.0158% |
| 1960 | #469 | 286 | 0.0134% |
| 1959 | #459 | 300 | 0.0141% |
| 1958 | #647 | 142 | 0.0067% |
| 1957 | #607 | 160 | 0.0074% |
| 1956 | #592 | 165 | 0.0078% |
| 1955 | #586 | 157 | 0.0076% |
| 1954 | #654 | 124 | 0.0061% |
| 1953 | #756 | 89 | 0.0045% |
| 1952 | #676 | 106 | 0.0055% |
| 1951 | #671 | 109 | 0.0058% |
| 1950 | #717 | 92 | 0.0051% |
| 1949 | #763 | 82 | 0.0046% |
| 1948 | #770 | 78 | 0.0044% |
| 1947 | #799 | 75 | 0.0041% |
| 1946 | #710 | 85 | 0.0052% |
| 1945 | #882 | 52 | 0.0039% |
| 1944 | #933 | 48 | 0.0035% |
| 1943 | #949 | 50 | 0.0035% |
| 1942 | #956 | 49 | 0.0035% |
| 1941 | #1,001 | 42 | 0.0034% |
| 1940 | #1,129 | 35 | 0.0030% |
| 1939 | #1,101 | 35 | 0.0032% |
| 1938 | #990 | 42 | 0.0038% |
| 1937 | #1,207 | 31 | 0.0029% |
| 1936 | #1,115 | 35 | 0.0034% |
| 1935 | #1,270 | 29 | 0.0028% |
| 1934 | #1,187 | 32 | 0.0031% |
| 1933 | #1,143 | 34 | 0.0034% |
| 1932 | #1,460 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1931 | #1,454 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1930 | #2,587 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1929 | #2,083 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1928 | #1,479 | 26 | 0.0023% |
| 1927 | #1,431 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1926 | #1,459 | 26 | 0.0023% |
| 1925 | #1,528 | 25 | 0.0022% |
| 1924 | #1,885 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1923 | #1,153 | 39 | 0.0036% |
| 1922 | #1,388 | 29 | 0.0027% |
| 1921 | #1,442 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1920 | #1,876 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1919 | #1,227 | 34 | 0.0035% |
| 1918 | #1,489 | 25 | 0.0025% |
| 1917 | #1,472 | 24 | 0.0026% |
| 1916 | #1,201 | 31 | 0.0035% |
| 1915 | #1,210 | 30 | 0.0035% |
| 1914 | #1,598 | 16 | 0.0024% |
| 1913 | #1,360 | 16 | 0.0031% |
| 1912 | #1,864 | 9 | 0.0021% |
| 1908 | #1,197 | 7 | 0.0045% |
| 1907 | #1,322 | 6 | 0.0041% |
| 1906 | #1,392 | 5 | 0.0038% |
| 1905 | #1,401 | 5 | 0.0038% |
| 1904 | #1,047 | 7 | 0.0055% |
| 1890 | #1,139 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1885 | #924 | 6 | 0.0056% |
| 1881 | #983 | 5 | 0.0050% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Shannon
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Shannon Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Shannon's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Shannon's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.