Shannon is a name of Irish origin that comes from the Gaelic word "Sionna," which means "wisdom" or "old." The name was originally used as a surname, derived from a river in County Cavan, Ireland. However, over time it has been adopted as a given name for both boys and girls.
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland, flowing through counties Cavan, Leitrim, Roscommon, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Tipperary, Kilkenny, and Clare before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at the Shannon Estuary. The river was named after the god of wisdom, Sionna, who was said to have lived on its banks.
In Irish mythology, Shannon is also associated with the Tuatha Dé Danann, a race of supernatural beings that inhabited Ireland before the arrival of the Gaels. According to legend, one of their leaders was called Shannon, and he was known for his wisdom and strategic prowess in battle.
The name Shannon gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century, particularly after it was used by actresses like Shannon Tweed and Shannon Lucio. Today, it is widely recognized as a unisex name, with variations such as Shannen (often spelled without the second 'n') being popular as well.
In terms of its meaning, Shannon carries connotations of wisdom, intelligence, and depth – qualities that are often associated with water, which features prominently in the name's origin story. As a surname, it is believed to have been borne by families who lived near or worked on the River Shannon, reflecting their connection to this important natural resource.
Overall, the name Shannon offers a rich tapestry of history and meaning, drawing from both Irish mythology and geography to create a powerful and enduring moniker. Whether used as a given name or surname, it carries with it a sense of strength, wisdom, and timelessness that is sure to captivate those who hear it.
The given statistics illustrate the changing popularity of the name Shannon over time in the United States. The name first began to gain traction around the early 20th century, with a steady increase in births from the 1920s onwards.
From 1923 to 1958, the number of babies named Shannon varied between 19 and 160 per year. However, it was during the late 1950s and early 1960s that the name really started to take off. Between 1959 and 1967, there were over 300 births for each of those years, reaching a peak of 2,373 births in 1969.
The popularity of the name Shannon continued to grow throughout the 1970s, with over 2,000 babies named Shannon each year between 1970 and 1977. However, as with many names, Shannon's popularity began to wane in the 1980s.
Over the past few decades, there have been fewer than 100 births per year for the name Shannon. This indicates that while the name is still used occasionally, it no longer holds the same level of popularity as it once did during its heyday between the 1960s and 1970s.
In total, from 1881 to 2023, there have been 52,282 babies named Shannon in the United States.