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Shante

♂ Boy

Pronounced shahn-TAY /ʃɑːnˈteɪ/Medium

Meaning: Shante is a late-twentieth-century American coinage most often connected to the French word chante, 'sung' or '(he/she) sings.' It is far better known as a girl's name, and its use for boys is the rarer branch. The appeal is the smooth shahn-TAY sound rather than a fixed dictionary meaning.Low

In 30 seconds: Shante is a modern American name tied to French chante, 'sung.' Mostly given to girls, it saw rare use for boys from the early 1970s on (said shahn-TAY).

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Origin LowAmerican, French

MeaningShante is a late-twentieth-century American coinage most often connected to the French word chante, 'sung' or '(he/she) sings.' It is far better known as a girl's name, and its use for boys is the rarer branch. The appeal is the smooth shahn-TAY sound rather than a fixed dictionary meaning.

U.S. rank (2001)#10351 ↘ Falling

2001 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1977

Total births (all-time)≈ 216

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Shante is an American coinage usually traced to French chante, 'sung,' part of a family of melodic Chant- names that spread in the later twentieth century. This boys' entry is the uncommon one; the name reads mostly as a girl's pick.

Even at its high point in the late 1970s it was given to only a couple dozen boys a year, and it faded by the early 2000s. A boy named Shante then would be in his forties now, from an era fond of soft, French-flavored coinages.

Did you know? Shante rides the same musical French chante root that gave us Chante and Chantel, but the boys' use stayed a small side stream next to the far more common girls' version.

Overall data confidence 35%

References - Shante — French chante 'sung'; rare masculine use of a mainly feminine name

Variations

ChanteShantaeShauntae

Nicknames

ShanTay

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Shante…

Donte— a like French-flavored boys' coinage

Andre— a similar soft-ending name of the era

Deshawn— another modern rhythmic boys' pick

Javon— a coined name of the same feel

Explore names like Shante

By thememodern coined boy

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shante mean?

It is a modern name usually linked to French chante, meaning 'sung.'

How do you pronounce Shante?

It's said shahn-TAY /ʃɑːnˈteɪ/, two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Shante a boy or girl name?

Shante is used as a boy's name.

Is Shante a popular name?

No, it has always been rare for boys, a modern coinage far more often given to girls.