Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Shana
GirlYiddish· “variant of Shayna, "beautiful"”
- Meaning
- variant of Shayna, "beautiful"
- Origin
- Yiddish
- Pronunciation
- SHAH-nuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #5,213
- US babies 2025
- 25
- Best rank
- #174 (1984)
- Peak year
- 1984
Meaning and origin of Shana
Shana is a Yiddish name that is usually said to mean “variant of Shayna, "beautiful"”.
Shana is often a variant of Shayna, from the Yiddish sheyn, beautiful. In Hebrew, shana means year, a word familiar from the new year greeting Shana Tova. In English-speaking countries, Shana can also be a short form of Shannon or a variant of Shauna, the feminine of Shaun. It is said SHAH-nuh or SHAY-nuh, depending on the family. Related names include Shayna, Shauna and Shannon. Because it has several sources, parents can choose it to honor Jewish heritage or for its simple, gentle sound.
Other spellings with the same sound: Shanna.
Popularity over time
Shana first appears in US Social Security records in 1937. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 37 different years, starting in 1963. Its best national rank was #174 in 1984, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,563 babies. In 2025, 25 babies were named Shana, and it ranked #5,213 nationally. That is 32% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #3,030 in 1950, #273 in 1980, #1,079 in 2000, #3,353 in 2010, and #5,213 in 2025. Of the 29,635 US girls named Shana since records began, 35% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 9,957 babies. Since 2010, 515 more have been named Shana.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Cara, Trista, Taryn, Adrienne, and Johanna.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Shana ranked highest in New Jersey and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | #1147 | 6 |
| New York | #2036 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Shana is usually pronounced SHAH-nuh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with S and ends in “-na”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Shanna.
Middle names for Shana
A few middle names that flow with Shana: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Shana
Similar names
Shaina Girl
SHAY-nuh
“beautiful” · Yiddish
#2,404
Dayna Girl
DAY-nuh
“variant of Dana” · English
#6,604
Seanna Girl
SHAW-nuh
“feminine of Sean, "God is gracious"” · Irish
#5,372
Nana Unisex
NAH-nuh
“Akan title for elders and rulers” · Akan
#7,045
Riana Girl
ree-AN-uh
“possibly short for Briana or Adriana” · American (modern coinage)
#5,199
Mena Girl
MEE-nuh
“variant of Mina” · German
#6,257
Zina Girl
ZEE-nuh
“short for Zinaida; meaning uncertain” · Russian
#7,486
Ana Girl
AH-nuh
“grace, favor (form of Anna)” · Spanish
#245
Jenna Girl
JEN-uh
“variant of Jennifer, 'fair one'” · English
#679
Kiyana Girl
kee-AH-nuh
“modern name, origin uncertain” · American (modern coinage)
#5,162
Nina Girl
NEE-nuh
“short form of names like Antonina” · Russian
#324
Breanna Girl
bree-AN-uh
“feminine form of Brian” · Irish
#2,548
Lists that include Shana
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Shana mean?
Shana is a Yiddish name that is usually said to mean “variant of Shayna, "beautiful"”.
What is the origin of the name Shana?
Shana has Yiddish roots. Shana is often a variant of Shayna, from the Yiddish sheyn, beautiful.
Is Shana a popular name?
Not especially. Shana ranked #5,213 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Shana a boy or girl name?
Shana is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Shana?
Shana is usually pronounced SHAH-nuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings