Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Shanna
GirlIrish, English· “variant of Shannon, or of Shana”
- Meaning
- variant of Shannon, or of Shana (origin disputed)
- Origin
- Irish, English
- Pronunciation
- SHA-nuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #12,982
- US babies 2025
- 7
- Best rank
- #149 (1978)
- Peak year
- 1978
Meaning and origin of Shanna
Shanna is often said to mean “variant of Shannon, or of Shana”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Irish and English roots.
Shanna has several possible sources, so its meaning is uncertain. It can be a short form or variant of Shannon, from the Irish river name, which is linked to the goddess Sionann; it can also be a variant of Shana, a Hebrew or Yiddish name meaning year or beautiful. Some families treat it as a blend of Shan- and -anna. It is said SHA-nuh, rhyming with Hannah. Shana, Shannon and Shayna are related names. Shan is a possible short form. It became popular in the United States in the late twentieth century.
Other spellings with the same sound: Shana.
Popularity over time
Shanna first appears in US Social Security records in 1931. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 37 different years, starting in 1961. Its best national rank was #149 in 1978, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,845 babies. In 2025, 7 babies were named Shanna, and it ranked #12,982 nationally. That is 59% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,650 in 1950, #181 in 1980, #1,279 in 2000, #3,684 in 2010, and #12,982 in 2025. Of the 28,284 US girls named Shanna since records began, 36% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 9,812 babies. Since 2010, 289 more have been named Shanna.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Trisha, Brianne, Shawna, Aisha, and Farrah.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Shanna is usually pronounced SHA-nuh, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with S and ends in “-na”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Shana.
Middle names for Shanna
A few middle names that flow with Shanna: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Shanna
Similar names
Dayna Girl
DAY-nuh
“variant of Dana” · English
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Ena Girl
EE-nuh
“variant of Ina or Enya” · Irish
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Jenna Girl
JEN-uh
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Briana Girl
bree-AH-nuh
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Breanna Girl
bree-AN-uh
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Dana Girl
DAY-nuh
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Sheena Girl
SHEE-nuh
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Brenna Girl
BREH-nuh
Irish
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Leanna Girl
lee-AN-uh
“blend of Lee and Anna” · American (modern coinage)
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Gina Girl
JEE-nuh
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Tina Girl
TEE-nuh
“short form of names ending in -tina” · English
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Mona Girl
MOH-nuh
“uncertain; several possible sources” · Irish
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Lists that include Shanna
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Shanna mean?
Shanna is often said to mean “variant of Shannon, or of Shana”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to Irish and English roots.
What is the origin of the name Shanna?
Shanna has Irish and English roots. Shanna has several possible sources, so its meaning is uncertain.
Is Shanna a popular name?
Not especially. Shanna ranked #12,982 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Shanna a boy or girl name?
Shanna is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Shanna?
Shanna is usually pronounced SHA-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