Shan
- US rank
- Unranked
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #1,904 in 1970
0 babies were named Shan in the US in 2025.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1944–2025
US births per million boys, 1944–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Shan you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- HistoryShan first shows up in US birth records in 1944, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 81 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1970, when it reached #1,904.
About the name Shan
Shan is a gender-neutral name of Irish origin. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, starting with S and ending in “-han”. US birth records list Shan for girls from 1944 to 2016, in 55 of those 73 years. Its best year was 1970, when it ranked #1,904 among girl names. It hasn't been given to 5 or more US babies in a year since 2016, so today it's a genuinely rare choice.
Origin:Irish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 5.2 | 191,693 girls |
| 1950s | 8.8 | 114,025 girls |
| 1960s | 14 | 70,572 girls |
| 1970s | 15 | 65,020 girls |
| 1980s | 5.2 | 194,175 girls |
| 1990s | 2.1 | 469,484 girls |
| 2000s | 0.9 | 1,075,269 girls |
| 2010s | 0.4 | 2,500,000 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 0.6 | 1,621,622 boys |
| 1950s | 4.6 | 218,818 boys |
| 1960s | 19 | 53,362 boys |
| 1970s | 33 | 30,553 boys |
| 1980s | 18 | 55,006 boys |
| 1990s | 19 | 53,937 boys |
| 2000s | 16 | 63,735 boys |
| 2010s | 9.6 | 103,734 boys |
| 2020s | 5.1 | 196,850 boys |
Other spellings of Shan
More Irish names
- Boy name: Liam · resolute protector
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Girl name: Abigail · my father is joy
- Unisex name: Riley · rye clearing
- Unisex name: Logan · little hollow
- Unisex name: Nolan · descendant of Nuallán
- Girl name: Maeve · she who intoxicates
- Unisex name: Kennedy · helmeted head
Questions about the name Shan
What is the origin of the name Shan?
Shan has Irish roots in our records. Other Irish names include Liam, Owen, Abigail.
Is Shan a boy or girl name?
Both. Shan is used for boys and girls.
How popular is the name Shan?
Shan is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2016. It peaked at #1,904 in 1970.