Shan
A unisex name with no widely documented etymology — one syllable, given to 15 babies a year in the US.
Shan by the numbers
Shan was given to 15 American babies in 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
Its American peak was 73 babies in 1969, so it is a 1960s name that has since fallen a long way.
What we can tell you about Shan
Not every name has a meaning to trace. Plenty are coined rather than inherited — invented outright, blended from two names, or respelled from an older one — and where we cannot find an etymology we can stand behind, we would rather say so than make one up. What follows comes from the birth records themselves.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Shan. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Shayhawk-like or gift; a form of Séaghdha73 in England and Wales (2025)
- Shaigift100 in the US (2017)
- Shaanpride, majesty37 in England and Wales (2025)
- Shahking or ruler; from Old Persian khshayathiya31 in England and Wales (2025)
- Shawthicket or small wood28 in the US (2017)
- Shunobedient; compliant11 in the US (2017)
Sounds like Shan
Names that are said the same way as Shan, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
- Shanegod is gracious; anglicized form of Seán927 in the US (2017)
- ShawnGod is gracious; a form of Sean835 in the US (2017)
- Shaungod is gracious; a form of sean244 in the US (2017)
- ShayneGod is gracious; a modern spelling of Shane85 in the US (2017)
- Chancommon surname; often means facilitator or mediator11 in the US (2017)
- Shainegod is gracious; variant of Shane9 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Shan
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