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Home › Baby Names Directory › Shantell

Shantell

♀ Girl

Pronounced shan-TEL /ʃænˈtɛl/High

Meaning: Shantell is a phonetic English spelling of Chantelle, itself an elaboration of Chantal -- originally a southern French surname and place-name later associated with French 'chant', 'song'. The Sh- spelling makes the soft French sound plain for English readers.Medium

In 30 seconds: Shantell writes the French Chantelle the way it sounds (said 'shan-TEL'). Often linked to 'song', it peaked in the late eighties.
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Origin MediumEnglish, French
MeaningShantell is a phonetic English spelling of Chantelle, itself an elaboration of Chantal -- originally a southern French surname and place-name later associated with French 'chant', 'song'. The Sh- spelling makes the soft French sound plain for English readers.
U.S. rank (2021)#11023 ↗ Rising
2021 U.S. births9 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1987
Total births (all-time)≈ 5,080

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198719632021

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

Shantell is an English respelling of Chantelle, a fuller form of Chantal. The name began as a French place-name honoring Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, and was later felt to echo chant, 'song'. American parents who liked the melody wrote it phonetically as Shantell.

A girl named Shantell at its 1987 crest is now in her late thirties. The name has a graceful, singing quality; it reads as eighties in this spelling and shortens easily to Shan or Elle.

Did you know? Chantal and Chantelle grew fashionable in mid-century France and crossed to America, where the phonetic Shantell followed; it reached its high point in 1987.
Overall data confidence 60%
References -- Shantell — English spelling of Chantelle/Chantal (Fr., linked to 'song')

Variations

ChantelleChantalShantelle

Nicknames

ShanElleTelly

Famous Bearers

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If you like Shantell…

Chantel— a same-root French spelling of the name
Chantal— the parent name behind Chantelle
Shantelle— a like phonetic English variant
Michelle— a same-era soft French -elle girl's name

Explore names like Shantell

By themerespellingfrenchmusical1980s

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shantell mean?

Shantell is a spelling of Chantelle, a French name from a place-name later linked to 'chant', meaning 'song'.

How do you pronounce Shantell?

It's said shan-TEL /ʃænˈtɛl/ -- two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Shantell a boy or girl name?

Shantell is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Shantell?

Shantell was a phonetic spelling of Chantelle that peaked in the late eighties and has been uncommon since.

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