Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Shantal
GirlFrench, American (modern coinage)· “variant of Chantal”
- Meaning
- variant of Chantal
- Origin
- French, American (modern coinage)
- Pronunciation
- shahn-TAHL
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #7,843
- US babies 2025
- 14
- Best rank
- #1,968 (1990)
- Peak year
- 1990
Meaning and origin of Shantal
Shantal is a French and American (modern coinage) name that is usually said to mean “variant of Chantal”.
Shantal is a phonetic spelling of Chantal, a French name that comes from Saint Jeanne-Françoise de Chantal, a seventeenth-century saint who founded the Order of the Visitation. Chantal was the name of the estate of her husband's family, and the place name is often traced to a word for "stone," though that origin is uncertain. The Sh- spelling shows English speakers how the French ch is said, and the name is said shahn-TAHL, though many Americans stress the first syllable.
Popularity over time
Shantal first appears in US Social Security records in 1968. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,968 in 1990, the same year it reached its highest count of 70 babies. In 2025, 14 babies were named Shantal, and it ranked #7,843 nationally. That is 30% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #4,482 in 1980, #4,060 in 2000, #4,480 in 2010, and #7,843 in 2025. Of the 1,685 US girls named Shantal since records began, 30% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 409 babies. Since 2010, 355 more have been named Shantal.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Kortni, Shamira, Alaura, Lauran, and Gladis.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Shantal is usually pronounced shahn-TAHL, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with S and ends in “-al”.
Middle names for Shantal
A few middle names that flow with Shantal: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Shantal
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Lists that include Shantal
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Shantal mean?
Shantal is a French and American (modern coinage) name that is usually said to mean “variant of Chantal”.
What is the origin of the name Shantal?
Shantal has French and modern American roots. Shantal is a phonetic spelling of Chantal, a French name that comes from Saint Jeanne-Françoise de Chantal, a seventeenth-century saint who founded the Order of the Visitation.
Is Shantal a popular name?
Not especially. Shantal ranked #7,843 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Shantal a boy or girl name?
Shantal is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Shantal?
Shantal is usually pronounced shahn-TAHL. 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