Shonta
Meaning of Shonta
Shonta, pronounced SHAWN-tuh (/ʃɔntə/), constitutes a unisex designation whose etymological foundation traces to the Irish Gaelic name Seán—itself an Anglicization of the Hebrew Yohanan, literally “God is gracious”—yet this particular form reflects a mid-twentieth-century American innovation through the affixation of the suffix -ta, thereby introducing a distinctive rhythmic and morphological element into the onomastic repertoire. Its emergence in the United States is documented by Social Security Administration records as early as 1964 at rank 776, followed by a steady ascent to its zenith of rank 665 in 1978 before experiencing a gradual diminution to rank 905 by 2003, with annual occurrences during that period seldom exceeding a few dozen. Employed by individuals of all genders, Shonta exemplifies the evolution of Anglo-American naming practices toward greater inclusivity and creative adaptation, marrying historical resonance with contemporary individuality.
Pronunciation
American English
- Pronunced as SHAWN-tuh (/ʃɔntə/)
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