Sheanna is a unique and exotic female given name of American origin. It is believed to have been created by author Anne Rice for her 1985 novel "The Vampire Lestat." In the book, Sheanna is introduced as an ancient vampire and the lover of the protagonist, Lestat.
The name Sheanna is a blend of two elements: "She" from the Irish goddess Arianrhod, often associated with inspiration and creativity; and "-anna," which is derived from the Hebrew word for "grace." Thus, the meaning of Sheanna could be interpreted as "inspired by grace."
There are no records of the name Sheanna being used prior to its appearance in Rice's novel. However, since then, it has gained some popularity, particularly among those who are fans of Anne Rice's vampire chronicles or simply appreciate unique and meaningful names.
While there is not a rich history behind the name Sheanna like that of many traditional names, its origins in literature give it an intriguing backstory that may appeal to those looking for something distinctive.
The name Sheanna has seen a varied trend of popularity over the past few decades in the United States. It first appeared on the scene in 1980 with five recorded births that year. The next two years showed a steady increase, with six births in 1981 and seven births in 1982.
In 1983, there was a notable spike with nine births, indicating an increased interest in the name at that time. This trend continued into 1984, when twenty babies were given the name Sheanna, marking the highest number of births recorded for this name in any single year during this period.
However, the popularity of the name began to fluctuate after this peak. There were eleven births in 1985, followed by a dip to eight births in 1987. The years 1988 and 1989 both saw thirteen births, showing some consistency in popularity during these two years.
The 1990s saw further variations in the number of babies named Sheanna. There were seven births in 1990, followed by eleven in 1991 and another peak with thirteen births in 1992. The next year, 1993, saw a decrease to eight births.
The latter half of the 1990s showed a consistent trend of around ten to twelve births per year for the name Sheanna. This includes eleven births each in 1994 and 1995, seven births in both 1996 and 1998, and another eleven births in 1997.
Entering into the new millennium, the popularity of the name Sheanna continued to fluctuate. There were seven births recorded in both 2000 and 2002, followed by five births in 2003.
In total, over this period from 1980 to 2003, there have been a combined 198 births registered for the name Sheanna in the United States. Despite the varied trend in popularity over the years, it is clear that this name has held some level of appeal among parents during this time.