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Home › Baby Names Directory › Shango

Shango

♂ Boy

Pronounced SHAHNG-goh /ˈʃɑŋ.ɡo/Medium

Meaning: From the Yoruba Sango, of uncertain meaning (linked to 'the striker'); the Yoruba orisha of thunder, lightning, fire, and justice, a deified warrior-king; routes uncertain; we note the deityLow

In 30 seconds: The striker; the storm-king: Shango is the Yoruba god of thunder. Bold, classic, and warm (said 'SHAHNG-goh'). We note the deity.
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Origin LowYoruba
MeaningFrom the Yoruba Sango, of uncertain meaning (linked to 'the striker'); the Yoruba orisha of thunder, lightning, fire, and justice, a deified warrior-king; routes uncertain; we note the deity
U.S. rank (1995)#10078 ↘ Falling
1995 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1972
Total births (all-time)≈ 28

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197219711995

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

Shango comes from the Yoruba Sango, of uncertain meaning (linked to 'the striker'); the Yoruba orisha of thunder and justice (routes uncertain, which we note the deity). A bold, classic name (said 'SHAHNG-goh').

In the U.S. it appears very rarely as a mythology name. Rare, the-storm-king at the root, and bold.

Did you know? Shango is linked to 'the striker' in Yoruba — the orisha of thunder, lightning, and justice, a deified warrior-king — a bold, storied name (the routes are uncertain, which we note the deity; said 'SHAHNG-goh').
Overall data confidence 44%
References — Shango — Yoruba mythology; orisha; routes uncertain

Variations

SangoXango

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Shango…

Oya— his wife, the storm-orisha
Oshun— a fellow river-orisha
Sosa— shares Shango's Yoruba roots
Ogun— lands in the same popularity range
Darey— a fellow Yoruba choice

Explore names like Shango

By themeuncertainmythologyyorubagod
By meaningLightWarriorRoyal / NobleFireSnow / Winter

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Shango mean?

Shango is Yoruba, linked to 'the striker'; the orisha of thunder and justice. The routes are uncertain. We note the deity.

How do you pronounce Shango?

It's said SHAHNG-goh /ˈʃɑŋ.ɡo/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Shango a boy or girl name?

Shango is a boy's name.

How popular is Shango?

Shango is a very rare name in the U.S.

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