Shonda
Perhaps a blend of Shona + Rhonda.
Every Shonda since 1954 — 7,444 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Shonda
Shonda is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1954, 7,444 American babies have been named Shonda. Its peak came in 1970, when 510 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1970s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Shonda stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Shonda year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — |
| 2021 | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — |
| 2019 | — | — |
| 2018 | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — |
| 2014 | — | — |
| 2013 | — | — |
| 2012 | — | — |
| 2011 | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — |
| 2008 | 5 | #20,043 |
| 2007 | 5 | #20,123 |
| 2006 | 9 | #12,283 |
| 2005 | — | — |
| 2004 | 8 | #12,590 |
| 2003 | 5 | #18,020 |
| 2002 | 7 | #13,419 |
| 2001 | 5 | #17,565 |
| 2000 | 16 | #6,761 |
| 1995 | 30 | #3,655 |
| 1990 | 67 | #2,026 |
| 1985 | 128 | #1,132 |
| 1980 | 235 | #714 |
| 1975 | 441 | #447 |
| 1970 | 510 | #432 |
| 1965 | 117 | #949 |
| 1960 | 41 | #1,785 |
| 1955 | 18 | #2,710 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Shonda
- Shonda Rhimes Producer · b. 1970
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Shonda mean?
Perhaps a blend of Shona + Rhonda.
How popular is the name Shonda in 2025?
Shonda did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Shonda?
7,444 babies have been named Shonda in the United States since 1954, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Shonda most popular?
Shonda peaked in 1970, when 510 newborns received the name.
Is Shonda a boy or girl name?
Shonda is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Shonda rising or falling?
Shonda has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Shonda?
Well-known people named Shonda include Shonda Rhimes (producer).