• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Request a Name

Appellation Mountain

Where every name has a story

  • Baby Name Advice & More
  • Master List: Girl Names
  • Master List: Boy Names
  • Private Baby Name Consulting

Shania: Baby Name of the Day

August 30, 2016 By appellationmountain 1 Comment

Shania: Baby Name of the DayA singer put this misunderstood name on the map.

Thanks to Shania for suggesting her name as our Baby Name of the Day.

Shania: 1970

The name first appears in the US Social Security records way back in 1970. That’s ages before Shania Twain scored her first hit – or used the name at all.

What explains the name’s early use? We were wild for Shan- names in the era.

  • Shannon ranked in the Top 25 by 1970, with alternate spellings like Shannan also heard.
  • Shana, Shanna, and Shanda were all on the rise.
  • Shawna and Shauna were gaining in use.
  • More Sh-/Ch- names making waves including Sharla, Chanda, Chandra, Chantel, and Charmaine.
  • While Sharon and company fell in the 1970s, it remained a Top 100 pick.

While ends in -ia names for girls weren’t wildly popular in the decade, they’ve always been around. Shania looks something like a mash-up of Shannon and Julia.

Shania: Pre-Twain

The more I looked, the more I found examples of the name in use even earlier. In 1996, diplomat Franklin Huddle escaped the hijacking and forced water landing of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961. So did his wife, but the spelling of her name varied – the New York Times spelled it like Twain, but other accounts listed it as Chanya.

As I searched for Chanya, I also discovered women named Chaniya.

They reminded me of Shayna, a Hebrew name meaning beautiful. Shayna, spelled several ways, caught on in the late 1970s, another option lifted by our love for Sh- names.

Shania: Twain

The name remained in steady, sparing use through the 1980s. But then we arrive in 1995, and everything changes.

That’s because Shania Twain had arrived.  Her album, The Woman in Me, was released. She scored several country hits, then a few crossover hits.

By 1996, Twain had become a household name. That same year, a record-setting 1,835 girls were given the name. It debuted in the US Top 1000 in 1995, and soared to #171 a year later.

“You’re Still the One” followed in 1998. The Grammy-winning song probably remains Twain’s best-known single, though it wasn’t her last hit.

Shania: On My Way

Everyone wanted to know about the singer’s distinctive name. Born Eileen, she adopted the stage name around 1993. Twain claims that it comes from the Ojibwa language and means “on my way.”

Twain’s stepfather belongs to the Ojibwa people. Their language is part of the Algonquin language family, and they live mostly in Canada, as well as border states in the US.

The idea proved irresistible, and the story of her name became much-repeated, almost certainly contributing to the spike in namesakes. However, attempts to fact check the origin and meaning hit a brick wall.

I found this clip from way back in 1993, of Twain claiming her name has no meaning. But the idea has stuck. A 1997 biography of the singer was titled Shania Twain: On My Way.

Shania: Fading

After 2011, the name left the US Top 1000. The singer’s career had cooled, and while Charlotte was rising quickly, many other Sh- names had passed their moment. In 2015, only 129 girls were given the name.

Any name bolstered by pop culture faces this challenge. Just as quickly as we fall for the name, it can fall out of favor.

The lack of a definite link to Native American culture probably hurts, too.

And yet overall, the sound that launched Sharon and Shannon to the top of the charts also lifted Shania – and it could certainly happen again.

Do you associate this name with the singer, or do you think it seems wearable even if you’re not a fan?

More names you might like:

  • Wilder: Baby Name of the DayWilder: Baby Name of the Day
  • Name of the Day: CraigName of the Day: Craig
  • Paisley: Baby Name of the DayPaisley: Baby Name of the Day
  • Quest: Baby Name of the DayQuest: Baby Name of the Day
  • Salome: Baby Name of the DaySalome: Baby Name of the Day

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print

Comments

  1. Amy3 says

    August 31, 2016 at 1:00 PM

    I think it seems wearable enough, especially given the -ia ending. I’m always leery of non-intuitive pronunciations so I wouldn’t choose it myself. I almost think Shaniah would make the pronunciation Twain uses more obvious.

    Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter


POPULAR POSTS

appmtn

Baby name blogger at www.appellationmountain.net. Lover of obscure gems, provider of #namehelp, and generally #babynames obsessed!

Abby Sandel
Love this birth announcement! We helped them brain Love this birth announcement! We helped them brainstorm middle names for their twins; in the end, they found the perfect choices by using the LNs of two dear friends. Welcome to the world, Willow Jordan + Wren Palmer! #girlnames #babynames #namingbaby #appellationmountain
Edith, Beckett, Bear + more trending #babynames #n Edith, Beckett, Bear + more trending #babynames #namingbaby #appellationmountain
draft draft
What would you name a sister for Finn Henry? They' What would you name a sister for Finn Henry? They're down to three names: Ivy, Tessa, and Claire. #namehelp #babynames #namingbaby #appellationmountain
What would you suggest to parents who love the nam What would you suggest to parents who love the name Emma, but want something less common? I always think Ada, but there are lots of possibilities ...
They're expecting their first daughter + their lis They're expecting their first daughter + their list is non-existent! Two thoughts; first, mom Sam/Samantha has always loved her name. Two, they love - but can't use - Avery, Aubrey, Everly. Suggestions? #namehelp #babynames #namingbaby #appellationmountain
Load More Follow on Instagram
Visit Appellation Mountain's profile on Pinterest.

Copyright © 2023 · AppellationMountain.net on Genesis Framework · Privacy Policy · Log in

We use cookies to ensure you the best experience on our website. If you continue using this site, we will assume that you're happy with it. Learn moreOk