Shawnee Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Shawnee originates from the Native American tribes of the Shawnee people, meaning 'southerners'. It has evolved through its historical roots in Algonquian languages. The name became more well-known during the 19th century and is now associated with a sense of cultural heritage. There is no direct biblical relevance, but it carries a rich historical significance. Variants include Shawny and Shawn, and it is often viewed positively in modern contexts.
The name Shawnee is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. 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, Shawnee has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, 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 male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Shawnee' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4691st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 10179th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 19652nd out of 24088 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 9204th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2227th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1578th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1488th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3218th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 10581st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Shawnee' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Shawnee"
Pronunciation
/ʃɔːˈniː/
Origin
Native American
Etymology
The name 'Shawnee' is derived from the Algonquian language, meaning 'southerners' or 'from the south'. It originally referred to a group of Native American tribes that lived in the Ohio Valley.
Meaning
southerners
Language Evolution
Shawnee (modern English), Shawnee (historical usage in Native American languages)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly during the period of westward expansion in the United States, as it was associated with the Shawnee tribe's resistance against colonization.
Variants & Derivatives
Shawny, Shawn
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, the name Shawnee is perceived as a unique and culturally rich name, often associated with Native American heritage.
Famous People
Tecumseh (Shawnee leader), Shawnee Smith (actress and singer)
Explore More Shawnee Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Shawnee"
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 "Shawnee"
"Shawnee" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4691st of 10718 | 77 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 10179th of 16616 | 31 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 19652nd of 24088 | 12 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 9204th of 9204 | 5 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2227th of 12526 | 466 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1578th of 19264 | 1,000 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1488th of 27321 | 1,561 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 3218th of 35406 | 768 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 10581st of 30306 | 108 |
Regional Popularity of "Shawnee" 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) |
- | - | - |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Shawnee" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
100.00% 2227th/2227 |
64.73% 1573rd/2430 |
100.00% 2853rd/2853 |
61.12% 1696th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
59.35% 1743rd/2937 |
50.07% 1744th/3483 |
58.27% 2050th/3518 |
31.92% 1291st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
37.53% 1383rd/3685 |
38.93% 1742nd/4475 |
37.62% 1954th/5194 |
19.88% 1256th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
54.21% 2484th/4582 |
70.45% 3638th/5164 |
51.10% 3737th/7313 |
46.21% 3449th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Shawnee"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Shawnee" 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.