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Shawnia

♀ Girl

Pronounced SHAWN-ee-uh /ˈʃɔːniə/Medium

Meaning: Shawnia extends Shawna with an -ia ending. Shawna is the feminine of Shawn, the English spelling of the Irish Sean, which is Ireland's form of John, from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious.' So Shawnia inherits John's old meaning through a chain of familiar names.Low

In 30 seconds: Shawnia is an -ia elaboration of Shawna, tracing back through Shawn and Sean to John, 'God is gracious.' It peaked quietly in the mid-nineteen-nineties.

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Origin LowEnglish, Irish

MeaningShawnia extends Shawna with an -ia ending. Shawna is the feminine of Shawn, the English spelling of the Irish Sean, which is Ireland's form of John, from the Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious.' So Shawnia inherits John's old meaning through a chain of familiar names.

U.S. rank (2003)#13615 ↘ Falling

2003 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1996

Total births (all-time)≈ 168

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

Shawnia is a lengthened form of Shawna, itself the feminine of Shawn. Shawn renders the Irish Sean, the Gaelic John, from Hebrew Yochanan, 'God is gracious.' Adding -ia to a familiar base was a favorite way to coin girls' names in the late twentieth century.

It was never common, given to only about twenty girls a year at its high point in the mid-nineteen-nineties, and faded soon after. A girl named Shawnia then is about thirty today.

Did you know? Behind the modern look, Shawnia carries one of the oldest name meanings around: the Hebrew 'God is gracious,' passed down through John, Sean, Shawn, and Shawna.

Overall data confidence 30%

References - Shawnia — Elaboration of Shawna; Shawn from Irish Sean (John, 'God is gracious')

Variations

ShawnaShauniaShawnyaShauna

Nicknames

ShawnNiaShay

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Shawnia…

Shawna— the base name it extends

Shauna— a variant spelling of the same base

Tawnya— a like -a/-ya name of the era

Janae— another modern name from a classic root

Explore names like Shawnia

By thememodern rare nineties feminine-form

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shawnia mean?

It elaborates Shawna, from Shawn and the Irish Sean, a form of John meaning 'God is gracious.'

How do you pronounce Shawnia?

It is said SHAWN-ee-uh /ˈʃɔːniə/, three syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Shawnia a boy or girl name?

Shawnia is used as a girl's name.

How popular is the name Shawnia?

It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year even at its peak in the mid-nineteen-nineties.