Shannan is an ancient unisex name that got its name from the longest river in Ireland, the Shannon River. Though popular in Ireland, Shannan is only on the top 12,000 list. Shannon, on the other hand, is a top 1,600 option.
Meaning of the name Shannan:
Gaelic: old, ancient
Origin of the name Shannan:
Shannan is a spelling variation of the original, Shannon. The latter came from the Shannon River, which in Ireland is Abha an tSionainn. The goddess Sionann got her name from the river. All of these names came from the ancient Gaelic word “sen,” however. Shannan and Shannon spread to America in the mid-twentieth century.
Symbolism of the name Shannan:
Shannan means “old” or “ancient” because of the Gaelic word “sen.” Remember, the Shannon River and Sionann got their names from this term too.
Style of the name Shannan:
Traditional
Gender of the name Shannan:
Shannan is a unisex baby name, though slightly more common for girls.
Pronunciation of the name Shannan:
SHAN-un
Number of syllables in the name Shannan:
Two
Emotion evoked from the name Shannan:
Shannan is a natural and wholesome name. It is simple and traditional.
Alternative spellings for the name Shannan:
Nicknames for the name Shannan:
- Shan
- Shana
- Shanna
- Non
- Nona
- Nana
- Shanny
- Shanni
Popularity of the name Shannan:
Shannan became a top 1,000 name in 1968 at rank 793. This option did best in 1970, however, when it was number 612. The last year that Shannan was on the Social Security Popularity Index was 1982 when it was at rank 941, but it is now a top 12,000 option.
Related names for the name Shannan:
Great middle names for Shannan and their meanings:
- Camille (religious helper, helper to the priest)
- Louise (famous warrior)
- Rose (rose, a flower)
- Mariah (the Lord is my teacher, star of the sea)
- Michael (who is like God?)
- Lee (meadow, clearing)
- Blake (swarthy, dark-haired)
- Reagan (little king)
Famous people with the name Shannan:
- Shannan Ponton (reality TV star from “The Biggest Loser Australia”)
- Shannan Taylor (boxer)
- Shannan McPherson (rugby player)
- Shannan Click (model, actress, “Deception”)
Shannans in popular culture:
- Shannan (character from “Lost Girls”)