Shawna

Shawna is a feminine name that emerged as an Anglicized form of Siobhan, the Irish variation of Joan or Joanna, ultimately meaning 'God is gracious.' The name gained significant popularity in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, peaking in the early 1980s when it ranked in the top 200 girls' names. Shawna offers a more intuitive spelling for English speakers compared to the traditional Irish spelling while maintaining its melodic sound. The name carries a friendly, approachable quality with its soft consonants and balanced syllables. Though less common for babies born in recent decades, Shawna retains a warm, unpretentious charm that connects to Irish heritage without requiring pronunciation guidance.

Shawna is also given to boys.

Pronounced SHAW-nuh.

As of October 2026, Shawna ranked #9294 in US births in 1990 SSA, peaked at #3529 in 1974.