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Shawnee
Pronounced shaw-NEE /ʃɔˈni/Medium
Meaning: Shawnee is the name of a Native American nation of the Ohio Valley, from Shaawanwa, an Algonquian word usually rendered 'southerner; person of the south.' We note respectfully that this is a living people's name, not simply a word.Medium
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
Shawnee comes from Shaawanwa, the Algonquian self-name of the Shawnee nation, usually rendered 'southerner.' The Shawnee were a major people of the Ohio Valley; their leader Tecumseh built one of the great Native alliances of the early nineteenth century. The word passed into American place names and, from there, into use as a girls' name. We note respectfully that Shawnee names a living people and their descendants today (said 'shaw-NEE').
In the U.S. it is rare as a given name. Rare, place-and-people rooted, and resonant.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Shawnee mean?
Shawnee is the name of a Native American nation, from Algonquian Shaawanwa, 'southerner; person of the south.'
How do you pronounce Shawnee?
It's said shaw-NEE /ʃɔˈni/ — two syllables, stress on the second.
Is Shawnee a boy or girl name?
Shawnee is used mainly as a girl's name.
How popular is Shawnee?
Shawnee is rare in the U.S. as a given name.