When was Shannon most popular?

The name Shannon reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Shannon Ray?

The name Shannon Ray combines two different traditions: the first name Shannon has Irish roots, while the surname Ray originates from French.

Shannon Ray — 271K & 133K bearers

Shannon Ray is a name that combines Irish origins. The first name Shannon is a feminine given name of Irish origin. Shannon is an Irish name, Anglicised from Sionainn. Alternative spellings include Shannen, Shanon, Shannan, and Siannon. The variant Shanna is an Anglicisation of Sionna. Sionainn derives from the Irish name Abha na tSionainn for the River Shannon. Because the suffix ain indicates a diminutive in Irish, the name is sometimes mistranslated as 'little wise one', but means 'possessor of wisdom'. The surname Ray: The surname Ray has several origins. Origin of the surname In some cases it originates from a nickname, derived from the Old French rei, roy, meaning "king", which was sometimes also used as a personal name. This nickname may have denoted a person's pride or swagger, someone's appearance, or regal behavior or bearing, or may have referred to achievement in a contest, royal service, or may have denoted someone who presided over certain festive celebrations. Shannon is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 271K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Shannon reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Shannon

Meaning: old, wise river

Irish

Shannon is an Irish name, Anglicised from Sionainn. Alternative spellings include Shannen, Shanon, Shannan, and Siannon. The variant Shanna is an Anglicisation of Sionna. Sionainn derives from the Irish name Abha na tSionainn for the River Shannon. Because the suffix ain indicates a diminutive in Irish, the name is sometimes mistranslated as 'little wise one', but means 'possessor of wisdom'.

Surname: Ray

French

The surname Ray has several origins. Origin of the surname In some cases it originates from a nickname, derived from the Old French rei, roy, meaning "king", which was sometimes also used as a personal name. This nickname may have denoted a person's pride or swagger, someone's appearance, or regal behavior or bearing, or may have referred to achievement in a contest, royal service, or may have denoted someone who presided over certain festive celebrations.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Shannon is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 52%

United Kingdom 27%

Australia 12%

Canada 10%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Shannon by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Shannon Ray

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Shannon Ray:

3

Expression Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

8

Soul Urge Number

Ambition and material success. Represents power, business acumen and the drive to achieve significant goals.

4

Personality Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Shannon?: The first name Shannon originates from Irish. Shannon is an Irish name, Anglicised from Sionainn. Alternative spellings include Shannen, Shanon, Shannan, and Siannon. The variant Shanna is an Anglicisation of Sionna. Sionainn derives from the Irish name Abha na tSionainn for the River Shannon. Because the suffix ain indicates a diminutive in Irish, the name is sometimes mistranslated as 'little wise one', but means 'possessor of wisdom'.
When was Shannon most popular?: The name Shannon reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Ray?: The surname Ray originates from French. The surname Ray has several origins. Origin of the surname In some cases it originates from a nickname, derived from the Old French rei, roy, meaning "king", which was sometimes also used as a personal name. This nickname may have denoted a person's pride or swagger, someone's appearance, or regal behavior or bearing, or may have referred to achievement in a contest, royal service, or may have denoted someone who presided over certain festive celebrations.
What are the origins of the name Shannon Ray?: The name Shannon Ray combines two different traditions: the first name Shannon has Irish roots, while the surname Ray originates from French.