Shannen
Shannen was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1993, when it ranked 894th with 216 babies. More babies were named Shannen in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Shannon) River Shannon (Irish) · Irish
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedgirls
- Babies in 2025
- 0girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1993216 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,071babies recorded
What does the name Shannen mean?
Shannen is a spelling of Shannon, pronounced the same way, so it shares Shannon's meaning and origin.
Shannon comes from Irish Sionainn, the River Shannon, Ireland's longest river, as Wiktionary notes. In Irish tradition the river is named after Sionann, a goddess or legendary woman; the name's meaning is uncertain, and 'old one' or 'wise one' are common but unproven glosses. Shannon became a given name in the 20th century, first for boys and then mainly for girls in the US.
Sionainn (Irish, “River Shannon”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. The river's name is clear; its meaning is not.
Other explanations you may read: Means 'old wise one'.
Related names: Shanon, Shannen.
See also: Irish names, names that mean water, names from places.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Shannon', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (our computation), SSA (public domain)
Shannen popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 150 since 1966.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — |
| 2010 | #16,660 | 6 |
| 2000 | #2,772 | 53 |
| 1990 | #4,839 | 20 |
| 1980 | #3,975 | 20 |
| 1970 | #2,004 | 42 |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Shannen, counting every spelling?
Shannen is a spelling of Shannon, a name family that had 75 girls in 2025 across its spellings. Together these spellings went to 75 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shannon | 75 | #2,405 | 509 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How old are people named Shannen?
About 1,900 people born in the US named Shannen are alive today, with a median age of 33; half are between 29 and 39. That makes Shannen mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Shannen by state
How common Shannen was among girls born in each state in 1991–1995, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in New York (2.1×), New Jersey (2.1×), Massachusetts (1.8×). In 35 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Shannen: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Shannen, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Shannen
What does Shannen mean?
Shannen is a spelling of Shannon, usually explained as “River Shannon (Irish)”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Shannen?
Shannen was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1993, when it ranked 894th with 216 babies. More babies were named Shannen in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Is Shannen a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Shannen in the US.
Where was Shannen most popular?
In 1991–1995, Shannen was most common in New York (0.18 per 1,000 girls), followed by New Jersey and Massachusetts.