It’s yet another masculine moniker that’s been favored for girls in recent years.
Thanks to Kelly for suggesting Shannon as Name of the Day.
You’ll find Shannon on the map in at least half a dozen US states, but the original is Ireland’s River Shannon, an important waterway since the earliest days – Ptolemy mapped the river in the second century.
The river’s name could be derived from:
- An ancient Celtic river goddess called Sionna or Sinann;
- The word for ancient – seán. Masculine names like Seanach and Seánan were in use over the years.
As a given name, there’s also:
- Some posit a link to Sean. While that’s probably not the source of the river’s name, Shannon may well have been viewed by many parents as an appropriate choice to honor someone named Sean;
- It’s also been worn as a surname, sometimes linked to Shanahan – which is linked to the personal names Seanach and Seánan;
- Lastly, there’s an Earl of Shannon. While there’s no clear connection, an aristocratic link has boosted plenty of names.
In the late 20th century, Shannon was an Irish setter – as in Henry Gross’ one-hit wonder from 1976. Gross was a former member of Sha Na Na. He penned “Shannon” about the death of Beach Boy Carl Wilson’s dog:
Shannon is gone, I hope she’s drifting out to sea She always loved to swim away Maybe she’ll find an island with a shady tree Just like the one in our backyardConventional wisdom is that the song took Shannon away from the boys and made her a hit for Team Pink. Not true.
Instead, Shannon ranked in the US Boys’ Top 1000 from the 1940s through 2006. He peaked at #94 in 1972, but still charted at #98 in 1976, the year of the song’s release.
For girls, Shannon first appears in 1937. She climbed steadily, entering the Top 1000 in 1968 and peaking at #17 the year of the song’s release.
I couldn’t land on any one factor that encouraged use of Shannon for either gender, but naming trends would’ve favored Shannon for a daughter. The Old Testament Sharon, a place name popularized by a 1925 novel, ranked in the US Top Ten from 1943 to 1959. And don’t forget Susan, Karen, Helen and Ellen – other very current two-syllable, ends-in-n choices for girls. Parents feminized the name as Shannen (as in Doherty) and Shannyn (think Sossamon), too.
Other notable Shannons have included:
- Del Shannon – born Charles Westover – remembered for his 1961 single “Runaway”;
- In 1961 and 1981, short-lived – and unrelated – detective series were called Shannon, though in both cases Shannon was the hero’s last name;
- 1983′s chart-topper “Let the Music Play” was recorded by Shannon, born Brenda Shannon Greene;
- Athletes, including LA Laker Shannon Brown and former NFL player Shannon Sharpe;
- Indie rockers like Shannon Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars, Shannon Larkin of Godsmack and Blind Melon’s Shannon Hoon, as well as Australian Idol finalist Shannon Noll.
Like Robin, if Shannon had no history, it is easy to imagine parents inventing him now. But he does have a past – and it is a recent past. With Shannon currently falling out of vogue for girls, it might not quite be time for his comeback. But wait a few years, and much like Kelly, Shannon could sound just right for a son.
Shannon is a boys name?? No way, no how, nah ah, no. Should not be done. To me, that’s like calling a boy Mary or Dorothy. Shannon is so completely female to me I had to read twice! Crazy…
See, the funny thing is – I know two men named Shannon. Both as masculine as you could imagine. I’ve only ever met one female Shannon and she was a former colleague’s daughter – so it really skews male for me, and while I know that’s not statistically accurate, I hear Shannon on a girl and it feels a bit like Evan or Aidan – sure, why not, except in my experience, it is a boy’s name.
Funny
Strange how it works like that. I think in Ireland it’s definitely more of a girls name. I never heard of a boy Shannon back home.
I haven’t met one Shannon here in NZ yet so I can’t really comment.
Bewildertrix – so true with the Shazza / Gazza. I know a Baz, Waz, Cuz, Azza all in my small town, just off the top of my head.
^^ Hee hee, I’m the opposite. Although I’ve met EQUAL male and female Shannon’s of all ages here in NZ, it’s still feels more masculine to me. The youngest male Shannon I ran into in recent times was in his early teens and you wouldn’t want to be messing with him. He was a tough cookie.
It’s not my cup of tea and feels a bit dated probably due to it’s similarity to Sharon which is prime naff girl’s name material here and often shortened to Shaz/Shazza. *cringes*
That’s where Shazza comes from? Huh. Learn something new every day …
For Aus and NZ, pretty much. We seem to love “-z/-zza” diminutives so Baz/Bazz for Barry, Waz/Wazza for Wayne, Gaz/Gazza for Gavin, Caz/Cazza for Catherine and so on. The possibilities are endless unfortunately. Similar thing in the UK too I believe.
I suppose Shaz/Shazza could easily come from Shannon too.
Yes, I knew a Baz (Barry) and Caz (Carolyn) in the UK.
Not my cup of tea for either girls or boys. To me, it does not sound euphonious.
This is actually a favorite for a girl. I loved the name since a young child, as my grandmother whom I respect immensely, always loved the name and was never able to use it. It used to hold teh number one spot for years- but isn’t any more. The thing that stops me from using it one day, is that my top girl names are Eden and Isla (said EYE-luh). So, for where I live (South Africa), Shannon would be a bit too common in comparison to the other two.It wouldn’t be fair to give 2 children (if I have 3 girls- I haven’t even had a child yet ‘roll eyes’) names that aren’t overly popular and one a name that is popular. I think I might use the name one day as a middle, out of respect towards my Gran (and I am not a huge fan of using family names. That shows you how much she means to me)
I never knew Shannon was male until I came across it on Yahoo Answers. I know in Ireland it is used on guys in a fair popularity dispersion(that sounds pompous, doesn’t it? seemed fitting for what I meant, though). However, I know an Irish person who lives in Ireland and they are exceptionally gender orientated when it comes to names – this person does not believe that unisex names exist; and this person never even knew that is was used on males.
So, I think the view of what gender it belongs to depends on your personal experience and region. Possible reasons why people view it as masculine is because of it nickname Shay.Also, Shannon can be similar to Shane
However, I completely agree with Bevin. Using Shannon on a male for me is like using David or Sawyer on a girl.
Sorry for such a long answer. I tried to answer thoroughly and clearly. I will try and keep the answers shorter- the length was not intentional
I was born a month early, and apparently the wrong sex
The doctors had told my parents to be expecting a baby boy, so they had picked out Shad David for my name.
As my parents sat in the hospital room holding their little bundle of joy; a barely 6 pound baby girl, they were pressed to come up with a name. They had the TV on, and were watching a game show, one of the female contestants had been named Shannon…and so it was.
I was told that Shannon was an Irish name, that it meant “small, but wise”. I don’t think it ever occurred to them that their “small” premie baby would grow to nearly 6′ tall.
Growing up I knew one other female Shannon,and I couldn’t stand her! (haha I am sure the feeling was mutual at the time.) I knew hand fulls of men named Shannon, and was often teased that I have a “boys” name.
People always think they are the first one’s ever to sing me a line of Henry Gross’s one-hit wonder, “Shannon”…Do they REALLY think I am impressed that my name is in a song about a dead dog named Shannon….ummmm not so much.
Friends of my grandparents always seemed to sing me a few line’s from ” Oh Shenandoah”..and again, they ALWAYS think they are so original.
I have grown to like my name as an adult, but as I child it was less than enjoyable to me to be teased and tormented over a boys/dead dog’s name.
Pingback: In Defense of Riley Anne and Evan Marie: Ten Reasons Boys’ Names on Girls Are Not a Sign of End Times | Appellation Mountain
My name. I feel like it really dates me. And my middle name is Kelly :/
Pingback: Baby Name of the Day: Nico | Appellation Mountain