Boy · #10,921 in 2026

Shaman

Name: Popularity of the name Shaman in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Shaman, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Shamanism is a spiritual practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal of this is usually to direct spirits or spiritual energies into the physical world for the purpose of healing, divination, or to aid human beings in some other way.

Current Rank

#10,921

Peak Rank

#4,457 (1986)

Total Babies

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1976

First Year

2007

Last Year

1986

Peak Year

#4457

Peak Rank

Total Count

Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Shaman

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology

The earliest known depiction of a Siberian shaman, by the Dutch explorer Nicolaes Witsen , 17th century. Witsen called him a "priest of the Devil" and drew clawed feet for the supposed demonic qualities. The Modern English word shamanism derives from the Russian word шаман , šamán , which itself comes from the word samān from a Tungusic language – possibly from the southwestern dialect of the Evenki spoken by the Sym Evenki peoples, or from the Manchu language . The etymology of the word is sometimes connected to the Tungus root sā- , meaning "to know". However, Finnish ethnolinguist Juha Janh

Origin & history

Shamanism is a system of religious practice. Historically, it is often associated with Indigenous and tribal societies , and involves belief that shamans, with a connection to the otherworld , have the power to heal the sick, communicate with spirits, and escort souls of the dead to the afterlife . The origins of Shamanism stem from Mongolia and indigenous peoples of far northern Europe and Siberia. Despite structural implications of colonialism and imperialism that have limited the ability of Indigenous peoples to practice traditional spiritualities, many communities are undergoing resurgence

The Story of Shaman

Shaman first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1976, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1986, when 9 Shamans were born — ranking #4,457 that year. As of 2026, Shaman ranks #10,921 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 71 Shamans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Shaman

Phonetically similar names — useful when Shaman is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Showman
Showmen
Schumann
Shimon
Shuman
Schuman
Shoman
Schuhmann
Shumen
Jamun
Chaman
Jaman

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Shaman

What does the name Shaman mean?

How popular is Shaman in 2026?

In 2026, Shaman ranks #10,921 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.

When was Shaman most popular?

Shaman reached its peak popularity in 1986, ranking #4,457 that year with 9 babies given the name.

Is Shaman a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Shaman is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Shaman?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Shaman include Jeffree, Patick, Brandley. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Shaman

Shaman is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1976 and has accumulated 71 births in the dataset. Shaman's peak popularity came in 1986 when it ranked #4,457. Use the chart and map above to compare Shaman's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.