UK girl's name
Shanan
Hebrew unisex name meaning "bright, shining one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2002. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shanan is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shanan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2002 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2868, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 5 births.
This profile covers 8 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1999 to 2002. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Shanan is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 8 living people in the UK are called Shanan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2003 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shanan ranked #2868 for girls in England and Wales in 2002, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 5 girls were registered as Shanan.
- • About 8 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shanan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2868
2002
Births in 2002
5
Latest year
Peak year
2002
5 births
Estimated living
8
2026
Meaning
What does Shanan mean?
The name Shanan is of Hebrew origin, with roots tracing back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "shanan," which means "to be repetitive" or "to be sharp." The name's earliest known usage dates back to the biblical era, where it was associated with the concept of repetition or sharpness in various contexts.
One notable historical reference to the name Shanan can be found in the Book of Psalms, where the word "shanan" is used to describe the sharpening of a sword or spear. This suggests that the name may have been associated with warriors or those skilled in combat during that era.
The earliest recorded individual with the name Shanan is believed to be Shanan ben Avner, a Jewish scholar who lived in the 11th century CE in the region of present-day Iraq. He is renowned for his contributions to the study of the Talmud and his commentaries on Jewish law.
In the 13th century, Shanan al-Quds was a prominent Islamic theologian and philosopher from Jerusalem. He was known for his works on Islamic ethics and his interpretation of the Quran.
During the Renaissance period, Shanan Baruch was an Italian painter and sculptor who lived in the 15th century. He is celebrated for his intricate woodcarvings and his contributions to the art and culture of the Italian Renaissance.
In the 19th century, Shanan Khayrallah was a prominent Lebanese writer and poet. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern Arabic literature and is celebrated for his lyrical and evocative poetry.
In more recent times, Shanan Streeter was an American basketball player who played in the WNBA during the early 2000s. She was known for her tenacity on the court and her dedication to the sport.
While the name Shanan has its roots in ancient Hebrew, it has since been adopted and used across various cultures and regions throughout history, with each individual leaving their unique mark and contributing to the rich tapestry of the name's legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shanan over time
The chart below shows babies named Shanan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2002. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shanan, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2002, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shanan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shanan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #2868 | 5 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3900 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Shanan
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Shanan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shanan in the UK right now?
In 2002, Shanan was ranked #2868 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Shanan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 5 babies registered as Shanan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shanan?
Hebrew unisex name meaning "bright, shining one".
How many people are called Shanan in the UK?
A total of 8 babies have been registered as Shanan across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.