Revision History

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1/21/2022, 9:40 PM Mike C update #111
2/4/2020, 9:06 PM Mike C update #107
7/11/2018, 11:16 AM Mike C update #100
10/10/2012, 5:50 PM Mike C update #84
2/12/2007, 1:03 AM Mike C earliest recorded revision

Gender Feminine & Masculine
Usage English
Pronounced Pron. SHAN-ən

Meaning & History

From the name of the River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland, called an tSionainn in Irish. It is associated with the legendary figure Sionann and is sometimes said to be named for her. However it is more likely she was named after the river, which may be related to Old Irish sen "old, ancient" [1]. As a given name, it first became common in America after the 1940s.