Shant

A boy's name of Armenian origin with 817 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

A drink, usually a pint.

Shant is a boy's baby name of Armenian origin, meaning 'lightning' or 'flash of light' in Armenian — a name that evokes sudden brilliance and dramatic natural energy. Shant is a traditional Armenian masculine name with deep roots in the culture.

The name carries a powerful, elemental quality — lightning as a symbol of divine power and illumination appears across world mythologies, from Zeus's thunderbolts to Thor's hammer. In Armenia, Shant has been used for generations as a name of strength and brilliance.

EtymologyShow more

Shant appeared in SSA records in 1972, 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 Armenian roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.

Shant’s 817 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

Unranked

Current Rank

817

Total births

Since 1972

1991

Peak year

33 births

Compare Shant with another name

Popularity Over Time

Shant has 48+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1972.

First appeared: 1972Peak: 1991 (33 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Shant
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	27	#9229	▼
2010s	95	#7351	▼
2000s	185	#4918	▼
1990s	249	#3092	▲
1980s	203	#2648	▲
1970s	58	#4281	—

The Story of Shant

A Millennial name

Peaking in 1991, Shant is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Shant are most likely born between 1981 and 2001.

How rare is Shant?

With 817 total births on record, Shant remains a rare and distinctive pick.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1972, peaked in the 1990s with 249 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Shant by the numbers

Would fill 17 school buses
Meeting one Shant per day would take 2.2 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(48 years, 1972–2023)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Shant
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2023	9	#8806	+3 (50.0%)
2021	6	#11908	-6 (-50.0%)
2020	12	#6972	+2 (20.0%)
2019	10	#8114	-4 (-28.6%)
2017	14	#6283	+3 (27.3%)
2016	11	#7525	-1 (-8.3%)
2015	12	#7008	0
2013	12	#6952	-4 (-25.0%)
2012	16	#5683	+9 (128.6%)
2011	7	#10596	-6 (-46.2%)
2010	13	#6647	-4 (-23.5%)
2009	17	#5514	+6 (54.5%)
2008	11	#7618	-7 (-38.9%)
2007	18	#5176	-1 (-5.3%)
2006	19	#4829	+5 (35.7%)
2005	14	#5831	-11 (-44.0%)
2004	25	#3725	+7 (38.9%)
2003	18	#4589	-4 (-18.2%)
2002	22	#3892	+3 (15.8%)
2001	19	#4269	-3 (-13.6%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shant a boy's or girl's name?

Shant is primarily a boy's name.

When was Shant most popular?

Shant reached its peak popularity in 1991 with 33 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Shant?

Shant is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 817 babies in the U.S. since 1972. Its peak was in 1991.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1972–2023