Shadow
Primarily a boy's name of Old English origin with 598 recorded births. Also given to 491 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Shadow is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old English origin, from the Old English sceadu, meaning 'shadow' or 'shade' — the dark form cast by an object when light falls upon it, a name of mystery, depth, and the interplay between light and darkness.
With nearly 600 recorded births, Shadow is a word-name in the tradition of names that claim powerful, mysterious natural phenomena. It has been used for characters in fiction — most memorably Shadow Moon, the protagonist of Neil Gaiman's American Gods, and the canine character Shadow in the film Homeward Bound. As a human given name, Shadow declares its bearer a person of depth and mystery, comfortable moving at the edges of light.
EtymologyShow more
Shadow appeared in SSA records in 1987, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Old English roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
Shadow’s 598 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Shadow climbed 4733 spots in the last 20 years — from #11126 to #6393.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 75 | #6153 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 120 | #7924 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 100 | #8097 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 258 | #2989 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 45 | #4407 | — |
The Story of Shadow
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1993, Shadow is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Shadow are most likely born between 1987 and 2003.
How rare is Shadow?
Only about 1 in every 257,143 babies born in 2024 was named Shadow — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1987, peaked in the 1990s with 258 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Shadow by the numbers
- Would fill 12 school buses
- Meeting one Shadow per day would take 1.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(38 years, 1987–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 | #6393 |
| 2023 | 12 | #7225 |
| 2022 | 18 | #5396 |
| 2021 | 17 | #5519 |
| 2020 | 14 | #6232 |
| 2019 | 15 | #6053 |
| 2018 | 10 | #8057 |
| 2017 | 19 | #5077 |
| 2016 | 7 | #10555 |
| 2015 | 11 | #7438 |
| 2014 | 14 | #6255 |
| 2013 | 14 | #6190 |
| 2012 | 5 | #13882 |
| 2011 | 18 | #5163 |
| 2010 | 7 | #10571 |
| 2009 | 8 | #9715 |
| 2008 | 10 | #8203 |
| 2007 | 10 | #8070 |
| 2006 | 17 | #5268 |
| 2005 | 8 | #8960 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Shadow as a Girl's Name
Shadow is a true unisex name. As a girl's name, it has 491 recorded births since 1974.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shadow a boy's or girl's name?
When was Shadow most popular?
How popular is the name Shadow?
Can Shadow be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1987–2024