Shannon ("old river") is an Irish name, Anglicised from Sionainn. Alternative spellings include Shannen, Shanon, Shannan, Seanan, and Siannon. The variant Shanna is an Anglicisation of Sionna. ''Sionainn'' derives from the Irish name ''Abha na tSionainn'' for the

River Shannon The River Shannon ( ga, Abhainn na Sionainne, ', '), at in length, is the longest river in the British Isles. It drains the Shannon River Basin, which has an area of , – approximately one fifth of the area of the island of Ireland. The Sha ...

. Because the suffix ''ain'' indicates a diminutive in Irish, the name is sometimes mistranslated as 'little wise one', but means 'possessor of wisdom'. Some derive the denomination of Shannon ( Irish: Sionnain) from the phrase ''sean-amhan'' or "old river." Another reported derivation is from ''Ó Seanaigh,'' "descendant of Seanach," which yielded the surnames Shanahan and Shannon.

Namesake

The name ''Sionainn'' alludes to Sionna, a goddess in

Irish mythology Irish mythology is the body of myths native to the island of Ireland. It was originally passed down orally in the prehistoric era, being part of ancient Celtic religion. Many myths were later written down in the early medieval era by ...

whose name means 'possessor of wisdom'. She is the namesake and matron of Sionainn, the

. The Shannon is the longest river in the

British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles (O ...

. Sionainn is one of seven rivers of knowledge said to flow from

Connla's Well The '' Dindsenchas'' of Irish mythology give the physical origins, and etymological source of several bodies of water - in these myth poems the sources of rivers and lakes is sometimes given as being from magical wells. Connla's Well is one of a ...

, the well of wisdom in the Celtic Otherworld (the realm of the dead). Legends vary about the creation of the river, but they all recount the drowning of the Sionna, granddaughter of the great sea god Lir, usually at an undersea well. According to the legend, nine sacred

hazel The hazel (''Corylus'') is a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The genus is usually placed in the birch family Betulaceae,Germplasmgobills Information Network''Corylus''Rushforth, K. (1999 ...

(or, by some accounts, rowan) trees grow near the well, and drop their bright red fruit in it and on the ground. In the well live the Salmon of Knowledge, whose wisdom comes from eating this fruit. By eating the fruit or one of the salmon, one can share in this wisdom.

Shortened forms

Shana and Shanna are familiar diminutives or forms of Shannon or Sionna.

Popularity

In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

, the name first appeared on the Social Security Administration's in 1881 for males. It later gained popularity as a feminine name in 1937. During the 1970s, American parents began to confer the name on boys and girls alike. It was during this time that the name's popularity peaked in the United States. In the 1990 United States Census, ''Shannon'' was the 317th most common name for American males. Irish emigrants may have popularized the name due to their nostalgia for Ireland. After ''Shannon'' became a popular unisex name in the United States, Irish parents, too, began to give newborn boys this name.

Women

* Shannon Applegate, American historian *

Shannon Ashlyn Shannon Ashlyn (born 20 February 1986) is a film and television actress, writer and director, known for her roles in the Australian horror film ''Wolf Creek 2 ''Wolf Creek 2'' is a 2013 Australian horror film co-written and directed by Gre ...

(born 1990), Australian Actress * Shannon Bahrke (born 1980), American freestyle skier * Shannon Baker (born 1980), New Zealand Rugby player * Shannon Barnett (born 1982), American composer * Shannon Bell (born 1955), Canadian performance philosopher * Shannon Berry, American actress * Shannon Beveridge (born 1992), American

YouTube YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second most ...

r * Shannon Bex (born 1980), American singer * Shannon Birchard (born 1994), Canadian curler *

Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod Shannon Mary Bilbray-Axelrod (born 1973) is a Democratic member of the Nevada Assembly. She represents the 34th district, which covers parts of the western Las Vegas Valley. Biography Bilbray-Axelrod was born in Las Vegas in 1973, and graduated ...

(born 1973), American politician * Shannon Bobbitt (born 1985), American basketball player *

Shannon Bolin Shannon Bolin (January 1, 1917 – March 25, 2016) was an American actress and singer. A March 10, 1941, article in The Mason City Globe-Gazette said that she was "known as 'The Lady with the Dark Blue Voice'". Early years Ione Shannon Bolin was ...

(1917–2016), American actress and singer * Shannon Boxx (born 1977), American soccer player *

Shannon Bramer Shannon Bramer (born 4 October 1973) is a Canadian poet. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, she attended York University before publishing her first book, ''suitcases and other poems'', which won the Hamilton and Region Arts Council Book Award. Over the ...

(born 1973), Canadian poet * Shannon Bream (born 1970), American journalist * Shannon Brown (musician) (born 1973), American singer *

Shannon Campbell Shannon Campbell (born 24 September 1996) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Brisbane Lions in the AFL Women's. Early life Campbell was born in 1996 in Sunshine Coast, Queensland. She was playing for Wilston Grange when she was ...

(born 1996), Australian footballer * Shannon Cassidy (1961–1999), American voice actress * Shannon Chan-Kent (born 1988), Canadian voice actress * Shannon Click (born 1983), American model * Shannon Cochran (born 1958), American actress * Shannon Conley, American actress * Shannon Crawford (born 1963), Canadian rower *

Shannon Cunneen Shannon Cunneen (born 2 March 1977 in Orange, New South Wales) is an Australian former cricket player. She played 41 Women's National Cricket League games for the New South Wales Breakers. Cunneen represented the Australia national women's cri ...

(born 1977), Australian cricketer * Shannon Curfman (born 1985), American singer * Shannon Curtis, American dreampop singer * Shannon Dawdy (born 1967), American historian * Shannon Day (1896–1977), American silent-film actress * Shannon Delany, American author * Shannen Doherty, American actress * Shannon Elizabeth (born 1973), American actress * Shannon Flynn (born 1996), English actress * Shannon Flynn, American director * Shannon Brenda Greene (born 1958), stage name Shannon, American singer * Shannon Grove (born 1965), American politician from California *

Shannon Jackson Shannon Jackson is the Cyrus and Michelle Hadidi Professor of Rhetoric and of Theater, Dance and Performance Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and former Associate Vice Chancellor of Art and Design. She also serves as Program Direct ...

, American performance theorist, author of the 2004 book ''Professing Performativity'' * Shannon Lucid (born 1943) American biochemist and astronaut * Shannon Lynn (born 1985), Scottish footballer *

Shannon Magrane Shannon Renee' Magrane (born October 21, 1995) is an American singer from Tampa, Florida, who finished in eleventh place on the eleventh season of '' American Idol.'' Early life Her father is former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and former Ta ...

(born 1995), performer on ''American Idol'' * Shannon McRandle (born 1969), model and makeup artist *

Shannon Ashley Mitchell Shannon Ashley Garcia "Shay" Mitchell (born April 10, 1987) is a Canadian actress and model. She rose to prominence for her role as Emily Fields in the mystery thriller drama series '' Pretty Little Liars'' (2010–2017), which earned her no ...

(born 1987), Canadian actress, model, entrepreneur and author * Shannon Spruill (born 1975), American professional wrestler, manager, and actor better known as Daffney *

Shannon C. Stimson Shannon C. Stimson (born October 8, 1951) is an American political theorist and historian of ideas, whose more recent work and teaching spans the economic and political thought of the early modern period through the nineteenth century. She is t ...

(born 1951), American political theorist * Shannon Tweed, (born 1957), Canadian actress * Shannon Walker (born 1965), American physicist and astronaut *

Shannon Arrum Williams Shannon Arrum Williams (born 26 May 1998), known professionally as Shannon, is a British-South Korean singer and voice actress currently based in England. She is known for being a contestant of '' K-pop Star 6: The Last Chance''. Prior to debut ...

(born 1998), Korean pop singer *

Shannon Webb Shannon Claire Spruill (July 17, 1975 – September 1, 2021) was an American professional wrestler, wrestling manager and actress better known by her ring name Daffney. Daffney began her professional wrestling career in World Championship Wr ...

(born 1999), American theatre manager * Shannon Whirry, American actor

Men

* Shannon Bennett (born 1975), Australian chef and author * Shannon Birchall, Australian born musician *

Shannon Boatman Shannon Boatman (born November 24, 1984) is a former Canadian football offensive tackle. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Florida State. Professional career Toronto Arg ...

(born 1984), Canadian football player *

Shannon Breen Shannon Breen (born March 16, 1989) is an American football center who is a free agent. He played college football at West Virginia Wesleyan. He has been a member of the Milwaukee Mustangs, Green Bay Blizzard, Cleveland Gladiators, Montreal ...

(born 1989), American football player *

Shannon Boyd Shannon Boyd (born 9 September 1992) is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer who last played as a for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL, and has played for Australia at international level. Boyd played for the Canberra Ra ...

, (born 1992), Australian football player *

Shannon Boyd-Bailey McCune Shannon Boyd-Bailey McCune (April 6, 1913 – January 4, 1993) was an American geographer. Early life and education Shannon Boyd-Bailey McCune was born in Sonchon, in what is now North Korea, as the son of Presbyterian educational missionarie ...

(1913–1993), American geographer * Shannon Briggs (born 1971), American professional boxer * Shannon Brown (born 1985), American Basketball player *

(born 1989), American football player * Shannon Clavelle (born 1973), American football player * Shannon Cole (born 1984), Australian NJ football player *

Shannon Corcoran Shannon Corcoran (born 22 February 1971) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray, the Brisbane Bears and Sydney in the Australian Football League (AFL) during the 1990s. Picked with the 49th selection of the 1988 VF ...

(born 1971), American football player * Shannon Culver (born 1971), Canadian football player *

Shannon Dallas Shannon Dallas (born 16 August 1977) is an Australian sit skier who receives support from the New South Wales Institute of Sport. Dallas participated in the 2006 Winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy, and the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, C ...

(born 1977), Australian skier * Shannon Denton, American storyteller *

Richard Shannon Hoon Richard Shannon Hoon (September 26, 1967 – October 21, 1995) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He was the lead singer of the band Blind Melon from 1990 until his death in 1995. Early life Richard Shannon Hoon was born on Septe ...

, rock musician from

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th ...

* Shannon Leto (born 1970), American drummer * Shannon Mitchell (born 1972), American football player * Shannon Noll (born 1975), Australian singer * Shannon Sharpe (born 1968), American football player * Shannon Charles Thomas (1971–2005), American murderer * Shannon Wheeler, American cartoonist *

Shannon Zimmerman Shannon M. Zimmerman (born March 15, 1972) is an American businessman and politician. From River Falls, Wisconsin, Zimmerman owns the Belle Vinez Vineyard and Winery since 2015. Zimmerman was founder of Sajan, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAJA). Zimmerman serve ...

(born 1972), American politician

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shannon (given name) English unisex given names English-language unisex given names Irish unisex given names Irish-language unisex given names

Namesake

Shortened forms

Popularity

Women

Men

See also

References