Home › Baby Names Directory › Shannon

Shannon

♀ Girl

Pronounced SHAN-uhn /ˈʃæn.ən/Medium

Meaning: Old, ancientMedium

In 30 seconds: Shannon is an English girl's name traditionally read as 'old' or 'ancient.' It is best known as the name of Ireland's great river.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningOld, ancient
U.S. rank (2024)#1873 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births107 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1970
Total births (all-time)≈ 295,710

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197019122024

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

History & Origin

Shannon entered use from the River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland, with its name often glossed as 'old' or 'ancient.' As a personal name it carries that watery, place-rooted sense rather than a word for a trait. It branches into spellings like Shannen, Shanon, Shanna, and Shana.

The two soft syllables read easily for either gender, though it leans feminine here. Bearers include the football player Shannon Sharpe and Shannon Lee, daughter of Bruce Lee.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Shannon is 'old, ancient', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Shannon — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

ShanaShannaShannenShanonShannah

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

  • ★Shannon Sharpe (1968–present)
    Football player.
  • ★Shannon Lee (1969–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Shannon mean?

Shannon is usually explained as meaning 'old, ancient' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Shannon?

It's commonly said SHAN-uhn /ˈʃæn.ən/.

Is Shannon a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Shannon is used as a girl name.

How popular is Shannon?

In 2024, Shannon ranked #1873 in the U.S. for girls, with 107 births recorded.