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Home › Baby Names Directory › Shadow

Shadow

♀ Girl

Pronounced SHAD-oh /ˈʃæd.oʊ/High

Meaning: The English word shadow, from Old English sceadu, 'shade; shadow; protection'. It is a word name rather than a traditional given name, and it is used for both sexes — and commonly for pets — which we note honestly.Medium

In 30 seconds: Shadow is the English word itself (said 'SHAD-oh') — a word name, unisex, and often a pet's name, which we note honestly.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningThe English word shadow, from Old English sceadu, 'shade; shadow; protection'. It is a word name rather than a traditional given name, and it is used for both sexes — and commonly for pets — which we note honestly.
U.S. rank (2024)#14956 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1994
Total births (all-time)≈ 491

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199419742024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Shadow is the plain English word, from Old English sceadu — which meant shade and shelter as well as darkness. As a given name it is a modern word borrowing, part of the same impulse that gives us Storm, Raven and Winter. It is unisex, and it is also a very common name for animals, which we note honestly so families choose with open eyes (said 'SHAD-oh').

It appears only rarely as a given name in the U.S., for either sex. Rare, moody, and word-plain.

Did you know? Old English sceadu meant both 'shadow' and 'shelter' — the shade of a tree was protection as much as darkness. Shadow as a given name is a word borrowing, used for boys and girls alike, which we note honestly.
Overall data confidence 55%
References — Shadow — English word name; Old English sceadu 'shade; shadow'; unisex

Variations

ShadoeShadoweShade

Nicknames

ShadShady

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Shadow…

Raven— a like dark-toned word name
Storm— a like unisex nature word
Winter— a like word name from the natural world
Sable— a like shadowy, dark-hued pick

Explore names like Shadow

By themeenglishword-namecross-sexnature-adjacent

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Shadow mean?

Shadow is the English word for the darkness cast in light, from Old English sceadu, 'shade; shelter'.

How do you pronounce Shadow?

It's said SHAD-oh /ˈʃæd.oʊ/ — two beats, stress on the first.

Is Shadow a boy or girl name?

Shadow is unisex; it is also very often given to pets, which we note honestly.

How popular is Shadow?

Shadow is a very rare given name in the U.S. for either sex.

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