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Shannon

Girl / Boy name · 5,249 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Shannon: 5,249 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 694 births in 1995.

Shannon comes from the anglicised form of the Irish surnames Ó Seanáin and Ó Sionáin, meaning 'descendant of Seanán' or 'descendant of Sionán', with both roots thought to derive from 'sean' (old or wise). It also shares its name with the River Shannon, Ireland's longest waterway, which may have given the name its enduring geographical resonance. Famous bearers include Shannon Hoon, the lead singer of the 1990s band Blind Melon, and actress Shannen Doherty, known for her roles in Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed. Once almost exclusively masculine in Ireland, Shannon became a popular unisex name in the late 20th century, and in Scotland it has been more frequently given to girls since the 1970s.