Shannon
Boy name · #2994 in 2025 · Uniqueness 88/100
In 2025, 41 baby boys were named Shannon, placing it at #2994 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1815, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 43,902 boys born in 2025 was named Shannon.
The 144-year story
Shannon first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1972, when 3,014 boys were named Shannon — good for #94 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Shannon per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Shannon against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Shannon in class?
Shannon scores 88 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Shannon will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Shannon is most common
State-level data for Shannon is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Shannon
Statistically, parents drawn to Shannon tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Clifton, Carlton, Scotty, Lamont, and Clinton.
CliftonCarltonScottyLamontClintonTheronJodyStanton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Shannon | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 41 | #2991 |
| 2024 | 51 | #2595 |
| 2023 | 43 | #2895 |
| 2022 | 42 | #2962 |
| 2021 | 64 | #2193 |
| 2020 | 70 | #2024 |
| 2019 | 69 | #2081 |
| 2018 | 68 | #2083 |
| 2017 | 79 | #1861 |
| 2016 | 78 | #1890 |
| 2015 | 82 | #1815 |
| 2014 | 85 | #1766 |
| 2013 | 97 | #1588 |
| 2012 | 95 | #1626 |
| 2011 | 101 | #1561 |
| 2010 | 95 | #1639 |
| 2009 | 144 | #1241 |
| 2008 | 150 | #1182 |
| 2007 | 162 | #1118 |
| 2006 | 190 | #976 |
| 2005 | 194 | #911 |
| 2004 | 201 | #871 |
| 2003 | 206 | #843 |
| 2002 | 234 | #742 |
| 2001 | 210 | #799 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Shannon a popular boy name?
Shannon ranked #2994 among boys in 2025 with 41 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1815.
When was the name Shannon most popular?
Shannon peaked in 1972, when 3,014 American boys received the name (ranked #94 that year). Since 1972 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Shannon?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 43,902 newborn American boys was named Shannon. It scores 88/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.