Shanita Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Shanita originates from African American English and is a modern American creation combining elements of existing names. It means 'God is gracious' and reflects a cultural trend in naming practices during the late 20th century. The name has evolved into its current form and is often associated with traits of uniqueness and creativity. It does not have biblical relevance, and its popularity surged in the 1970s and 1980s. Variants include Shana and Nita.
The name Shanita is most popular in District of Columbia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Shanita has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Shanita' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 8881st out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1376th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1249th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 10604th out of 35406 names. Discover how the name 'Shanita' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Shanita"
Pronunciation
/ʃəˈniːtə/
Origin
African American English
Etymology
The name Shanita is believed to be a modern American invention, combining the prefix 'Sha-' with the suffix '-nita', often associated with names like Juanita. It reflects a trend in African American culture in the mid-20th century to create unique names.
Meaning
God is gracious
Language Evolution
Shanita
Historical Usage
Shanita gained popularity in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s, aligning with the rise of uniquely created names in African American communities.
Variants & Derivatives
Shana, Shan, Nita
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Shanita is perceived as a unique and culturally significant name, often associated with individuality and creativity.
Famous People
Shanita Foster, an American author and motivational speaker, Shanita Lee, a notable television personality
Explore More Shanita Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Shanita"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Shanita"
"Shanita" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 8881st of 12526 | 23 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1376th of 19264 | 1,250 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1249th of 27321 | 2,033 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 10604th of 35406 | 144 |
Regional Popularity of "Shanita" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Shanita" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
39.02% 1146th/2937 |
47.86% 1667th/3483 |
26.92% 947th/3518 |
59.25% 2396th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
28.68% 1057th/3685 |
28.38% 1270th/4475 |
17.39% 903rd/5194 |
49.42% 3122nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Shanita"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Shanita" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.