Shawna
MeaningGod is gracious · Irish
Shawna is a Gaelic girl name meaning “God is gracious”, with Irish roots. Irish names are loved for their lilting sound and their links to Celtic saints and legends. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Shawna would score 12 points, thanks largely to the H (worth 4).
- GenerationShawna peaked in 1977, which makes it a Gen X name. The typical Shawna you'd meet today is about 48 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Shawna would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 178,571 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryShawna first shows up in US birth records in 1941, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 84 years since.
US births per million girls, 1941–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Shawna
Shawna is a girl name of Gaelic origin meaning “God is gracious”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 1970s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Gaelic names
More Gaelic girl names
- Girl name: Nora · honor
- Girl name: Hazel · hazel tree
- Girl name: Isla · from Islay
- Unisex name: Riley · rye clearing
- Girl name: Maeve · she who intoxicates
- Unisex name: Kennedy · helmeted head
- Unisex name: Quinn · descendant of Conn
- Girl name: Alana · possibly little rock
Questions about the name Shawna
What does the name Shawna mean?
Shawna means “God is gracious” and comes from Irish. Names built around “God” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Isabella (“God is my oath”), Eliana (“my God has answered”), Elias (“my God is Yahweh”) and Elizabeth (“God is my oath”).
What is the origin of the name Shawna?
Shawna is Gaelic in origin, and its meaning traces back to Irish. Other Gaelic names to consider are Nora (“honor”), Hazel (“hazel tree”), Isla (“from Islay”) and Riley (“rye clearing”).
Is Shawna a boy or girl name?
Shawna is a girl name. In 2025, 9 US girls were named Shawna.
How popular is the name Shawna?
Shawna ranked #10,107 for US girls in 2025, given to 9 babies. Its best year was 1977, when it reached #139. Over the last five years it has slipped 5,654 places.
What names are similar to Shawna?
If you like Shawna, you might also like Isabella, Eliana, Elias and Elizabeth.
What should I know before naming my baby Shawna?
Shawna is a Gaelic girl name meaning “God is gracious”, with Irish roots. Irish names are loved for their lilting sound and their links to Celtic saints and legends. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.