Shannay is a unique and beautiful name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish surname "O'Scanlan," which means "son of Scanlan." The name Scanlan itself comes from the Irish word "scán" meaning "shadow" or "dark."
The history of the name Shannay can be traced back to ancient Ireland, where it was used as a surname. Over time, some families began using Shannay as a given name for their children, and today it is recognized as both a surname and a given name.
Shannay has not been extensively used throughout history, which makes it a rare and distinctive choice for a name. This rarity can be appealing to parents looking for an unusual yet meaningful name for their child.
The name Shannay has seen a steady increase in popularity over the years in the United States. In 1990, there were 7 births with this unique name, but by 1991, that number had risen to 9 births. This indicates an upward trend for the name Shannay during this period, with a total of 16 babies being born with this name over those two years combined.