Shawna Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SHAW-nah //ˈʃɔː.nə//
Origin: Irish; English
Meaning: Irish: 'God is gracious'; English: variant of Sean
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Shawna is believed to have originated as a feminine form of the name Sean, which is the Irish equivalent of the English name John. The name John itself has roots in the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious." This name was adapted into Greek as Ioannes, which then transitioned into Latin as Johannes.
The name made its way into Old French as Jehan, and eventually evolved into John in Middle English. The transformation into Shawna likely occurred in the 20th century as part of a broader trend of creating feminine variations of traditionally male names, particularly in English-speaking cultures.
Historically, the name John has been significant, appearing in various religious texts and historical records. Notably, John the Baptist and John the Apostle are prominent biblical figures, with the name being widely used throughout Christian history.
The name's enduring popularity can be traced through various translations of the Bible, including the King James Version published in 1611, which solidified its presence in English-speaking societies. As a derivative, Shawna emerged in the late 20th century, reflecting a cultural shift towards unique and personalized names for girls.
Culturally, Shawna carries connotations of grace and favor, echoing its roots in the meaning of John. The name has been associated with strength and individuality, resonating with parents seeking distinctive names for their daughters.
Additionally, diminutive forms such as Shaw or Shae may be used informally, reflecting a trend of creating affectionate or casual versions of names. Overall, Shawna represents a blend of historical significance and modern naming practices, embodying a connection to its linguistic heritage while also standing out as a contemporary choice.
Famous people named Shawna
In this section, you will find notable people named Shawna. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Shawna who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Shawna who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Shawna Johnson is a professional athlete best known for her achievements in track and field.
Shawna L. Williams is an author best known for her novels in the romance genre.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Shawna, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Shawna. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Shawna was first seen in the United States in 1941.
Shawna has ranked as high as #269 nationally, which occurred in 1977, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
In the past 5 years the name Shawna has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Shawna is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Shawna was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Shawna.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2024 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 2023 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 2022 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 2021 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 2020 | 30 | 0 | 30 |
| 2019 | 28 | 0 | 28 |
| 2018 | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| 2017 | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| 2016 | 42 | 0 | 42 |
| 2015 | 43 | 0 | 43 |
| 2014 | 42 | 0 | 42 |
| 2013 | 49 | 0 | 49 |
| 2012 | 62 | 0 | 62 |
| 2011 | 70 | 0 | 70 |
| 2010 | 92 | 0 | 92 |
| 2009 | 88 | 0 | 88 |
| 2008 | 121 | 0 | 121 |
| 2007 | 137 | 0 | 137 |
| 2006 | 142 | 0 | 142 |
| 2005 | 177 | 0 | 177 |
| 2004 | 190 | 0 | 190 |
| 2003 | 250 | 0 | 250 |
| 2002 | 250 | 0 | 250 |
| 2001 | 313 | 0 | 313 |
| 2000 | 341 | 0 | 341 |
| 1999 | 386 | 0 | 386 |
| 1998 | 445 | 0 | 445 |
| 1997 | 463 | 0 | 463 |
| 1996 | 536 | 0 | 536 |
| 1995 | 612 | 0 | 612 |
| 1994 | 794 | 0 | 794 |
| 1993 | 848 | 0 | 848 |
| 1992 | 909 | 0 | 909 |
| 1991 | 988 | 0 | 988 |
| 1990 | 1,130 | 5 | 1,125 |
| 1989 | 1,007 | 0 | 1,007 |
| 1988 | 1,102 | 0 | 1,102 |
| 1987 | 1,125 | 0 | 1,125 |
| 1986 | 1,201 | 5 | 1,196 |
| 1985 | 1,200 | 0 | 1,200 |
| 1984 | 1,334 | 7 | 1,327 |
| 1983 | 1,460 | 5 | 1,455 |
| 1982 | 1,778 | 8 | 1,770 |
| 1981 | 1,366 | 7 | 1,359 |
| 1980 | 1,437 | 5 | 1,432 |
| 1979 | 1,556 | 8 | 1,548 |
| 1978 | 1,710 | 8 | 1,702 |
| 1977 | 2,090 | 8 | 2,082 |
| 1976 | 1,515 | 7 | 1,508 |
| 1975 | 1,694 | 5 | 1,689 |
| 1974 | 1,672 | 10 | 1,662 |
| 1973 | 1,411 | 8 | 1,403 |
| 1972 | 1,671 | 5 | 1,666 |
| 1971 | 1,420 | 0 | 1,420 |
| 1970 | 1,508 | 8 | 1,500 |
| 1969 | 1,189 | 0 | 1,189 |
| 1968 | 740 | 0 | 740 |
| 1967 | 645 | 0 | 645 |
| 1966 | 609 | 0 | 609 |
| 1965 | 552 | 0 | 552 |
| 1964 | 589 | 0 | 589 |
| 1963 | 458 | 0 | 458 |
| 1962 | 295 | 0 | 295 |
| 1961 | 280 | 0 | 280 |
| 1960 | 209 | 0 | 209 |
| 1959 | 185 | 0 | 185 |
| 1958 | 153 | 0 | 153 |
| 1957 | 167 | 0 | 167 |
| 1956 | 131 | 0 | 131 |
| 1955 | 98 | 0 | 98 |
| 1954 | 77 | 0 | 77 |
| 1953 | 46 | 0 | 46 |
| 1952 | 43 | 0 | 43 |
| 1951 | 49 | 0 | 49 |
| 1950 | 37 | 0 | 37 |
| 1949 | 34 | 0 | 34 |
| 1948 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 1947 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1946 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1944 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1943 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1942 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1941 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Top States for Shawna (2016)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 5 |