Shannah

Share
© Depositphotos

Fact sheet

Name
Shannah
Gender
Girl name
Syllables
2

Shannah is a female first name that is considered the English variant of Shannon. This name refers to the longest river in Ireland, which is also called Shannon. The translation of the name is 'the owner of wisdom' or 'the old river'.

What does the name Shannah mean?

Shannah, as the English spelling of Shannon, points to the longest river in Ireland. The direct translation is 'the owner of wisdom' or 'the old river'. The name has its roots in Old Irish and is composed of the elements sen, meaning 'old', 'ancient', or 'wise', and aub or abhainn, meaning 'the river'. Additionally, Shannah can also be seen as a short form of Susanna, a name derived from the Greek Sousanna (Σουσάννα) with its origin in the Hebrew Shoshannah. This meaning is often translated as 'the lily' or 'the lotus flower'. The origin could lie in the Old Hebrew shoshan (שׁוֹשָׁן) for 'the lily' or 'the rose', or in the ancient Egyptian sheshen or sšn for 'the lotus' or 'the water lily'. Other variants of the name include Shannan, Shannen, Shanon, Shannyn, Shannin, Shannyo, Shanin, Shanahan, and Shana.

Where does the name Shannah come from?

The first name Shannah has its roots in Old Hebrew and Old Irish and means 'the owner of wisdom' or 'the lily'. The etymology is derived from Shannon, where sen in Old Irish means 'old', 'ancient', or 'wise', and aub or abhainn means 'the river'. Additionally, Shannah is derived from Shoshannah, where shoshan (שׁוֹשָׁן) in Old Hebrew means 'the lily' or 'the rose', while sheshen or sšn in ancient Egyptian means 'the lotus' or 'the water lily'. The languages in which the name appears are English and Irish.

How do you pronounce Shannah?

Shannah is pronounced approximately like 'Schanna'.

When is the name day of Shannah?

The name days for Shannah are August 11, October 17, and December 26.

Popularity

In Germany, Shannah is a rather rare name. In 2009, it ranked 2,111th on the list of the most common female first names. From 1930 to 2024, the name was used in Germany, averaging 1st place. However, in the last ten years, no child has received this name. On an international level, there are also rankings for Shannah in various countries.

Famous people

  • Shannah Trailor (American writer)

Frequently asked questions about the name Shannah

What does the name Shannah mean?

Shannah means 'the owner of wisdom' or 'the lily'. The name has its roots in Old Hebrew and Old Irish.

Is Shannah a girl's or boy's name?

Shannah is a girl's name and is primarily used for girls.

Are there suitable middle or nicknames for Shannah?

No specific nicknames for Shannah are documented, as the name is often used in its form.

How is Shannah pronounced?

Shannah is usually pronounced as 'Schanna', with the 'h' at the end often being silent.

Cookie settings

We use cookies to run this website and to show personalised advertising via Google AdSense. Necessary cookies are required for the site to work. Marketing cookies allow us to show relevant ads. You can change your choice at any time. Learn more