girl's name
Shona
SHOH-nuh (English)
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Top 1000 (Scotland)
- Births on record 8,350
Ireland
#836
2025 births
Shona is a girl's name with 2 syllables. In 2024 it was given to 6 babies in the United States. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in Scotland.
- Peaked in Scotland in 1975, when 167 babies were given the name.
- It has largely dropped out of use in Scotland.
- First appears in birth records in 1974.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Shona Over Time
Births per decade in Scotland, 1970s to 2010s.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 871 |
| 1980s | 926 |
| 1990s | 513 |
| 2000s | 120 |
| 2010s | 10 |
How Popular Is Shona?
In 2012, Shona was given to 4 babies in Scotland, ranking #771 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in Scotland.
Where Shona Is Used
Figures for Scotland leave out any name given to fewer than three babies in a year, so a gap means the name fell below that floor rather than went unused. Data & sources.
How Shona Is Spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Shóna | Shóna is a rare spelling of Shona, written with a fada and recorded 7 times, mostly in Ireland. | 7 |
Names That Peaked Alongside Shona
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Shona Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Shona over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Shona
- English SHOH-nuh
Shona in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
- Other forms
- Forms we hold no single language for — some are used across several, some are simply spelled differently.
- Shóna
Sibling Names for Shona
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Shona — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Shona
How popular is the name Shona?
In 2012, Shona was given to 4 babies in Scotland, ranking #771 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in Scotland.
Is Shona a girl's or a boy's name?
Shona is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Shona?
Shona has 2 syllables.
When was Shona most popular?
Shona peaked in 1975, when 167 babies were given the name. It has largely dropped out of use.
Is Shona a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Shona currently ranks #836 in Scotland. It has largely dropped out of use. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.