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{{Other uses|Shannon (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox given name
{{Infobox given name
| name = Shannon
| name = Shannon
| image =
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| caption =
| pronunciation = SHAN-non
| pronunciation = {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʃ|æ|n|ən}} {{respell|SHAN-ən}}
| gender = Female (Ireland), Unisex (America, Australia)
| gender = Female (Ireland)<br/>Unisex (America, Australia)
| meaning = "wise river"
| meaning = "wise river"
| region = [[Ireland]]
| region = [[Ireland]]
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==Namesake==
==Namesake==
The name ''Sionainn'' alludes to Sionna, a goddess in [[Irish mythology]] whose name means 'possessor of wisdom'. She is the [[namesake]] and matron of Sionainn, the [[River Shannon]]. The Shannon is the longest river in [[Ireland]]<ref name="behindthename">{{cite web |last=Campbell |first=Mike |title=Shannon |url=http://www.behindthename.com/name/shannon |access-date=7 October 2012 |work=Behind the Name}}</ref> and in the [[British Isles]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The River Shannon: A Journey Down Ireland's Longest River |first=Aiveen |last=Cooper |publisher=Collins Press |location=[[Cork (city)|Cork]] |date=2011 |isbn=9781848891074 |oclc=751791624 |page=6 }}</ref>
The name ''Sionainn'' alludes to Sionna, a goddess in [[Irish mythology]] whose name means 'possessor of wisdom'. She is the [[namesake]] and matron of Sionainn, the [[River Shannon]]. The Shannon is the longest river in [[Ireland]]<ref name="behindthename">{{cite web |last=Campbell |first=Mike |title=Shannon |url=http://www.behindthename.com/name/shannon |access-date=7 October 2012 |work=Behind the Name}}</ref> and in the [[British Isles]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The River Shannon: A Journey Down Ireland's Longest River |first=Aiveen |last=Cooper |publisher=Collins Press |location=[[Cork (city)|Cork]] |date=2011 |isbn=978-1-84889-107-4 |oclc=751791624 |page=6 }}</ref>


Sionainn is one of seven rivers of knowledge said to flow from [[Connla's Well]], the well of wisdom in the [[Celtic Otherworld]] (the realm of the dead). Legends vary about the creation of the river, but they all recount the drowning of the Sionna, granddaughter of the great sea god [[Ler (mythology)|Lir]], usually at an undersea well. <ref>Bulik, Mark. The Sons of Molly Maguire: The Irish Roots of America's First Labor War. Fordham University Press, 2015. Print.</ref>
Sionainn is one of seven rivers of knowledge said to flow from [[Connla's Well]], the well of wisdom in the [[Celtic Otherworld]] (the realm of the dead). Legends vary about the creation of the river, but they all recount the drowning of the Sionna, granddaughter of the great sea god [[Ler (mythology)|Lir]], usually at an undersea well. <ref>Bulik, Mark. The Sons of Molly Maguire: The Irish Roots of America's First Labor War. Fordham University Press, 2015. Print.</ref>
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* [[Shannon Day]] (1896–1977), American actress
* [[Shannon Day]] (1896–1977), American actress
* [[Shannon Delany]], American author
* [[Shannon Delany]], American author
* [[Shannen Doherty]] (born 1971), American actress
* [[Shannen Doherty]] (1971–2024), American actress
* [[Shannon Elizabeth]] (born 1973), American actress
* [[Shannon Elizabeth]] (born 1973), American actress
* [[Shannon Flynn]] (born 1996), English actress
* [[Shannon Flynn]] (born 1996), English actress
* [[Shannon Galpin]] (born 1974), American film producer
* [[Shannon Galpin]] (born 1974), American film producer
* [[Shannon Galpin]] (born 1974), American film producer
* [[Shannon Gelson]] (born 1990), Irish-American Rugby player
* [[Shannon Grove]] (born 1965), American politician
* [[Shannon Grove]] (born 1965), American politician
* [[Shannon Hale]] (born 1974), American author
* [[Shannon Hale]] (born 1974), American author

Latest revision as of 12:54, 30 July 2024

Shannon
Pronunciation/ˈʃænən/ SHAN-ən
GenderFemale (Ireland)
Unisex (America, Australia)
Language(s)Irish
Origin
Meaning"wise river"
Region of originIreland
Other names
Alternative spellingSionainn, Seanan, Siannon, Shannen, Shanon, Shannan
Variant form(s)Shan, Shana, Shanna
Nickname(s)Shan, Non
DerivedSionainn

Shannon is an Irish name, Anglicised from Sionainn. Alternative spellings include Shannen, Shanon, Shannan, Seanan, and Siannon. The variant Shanna is an Anglicisation of Sionna.

Sionainn derives from the Irish name Abha na tSionainn for the River Shannon. Because the suffix ain indicates a diminutive in Irish, the name is sometimes mistranslated as 'little wise one', but means 'possessor of wisdom'.

Some derive the denomination of Shannon (Irish: Sionnain) from the phrase sean-amhan or "old river."[1] Another reported derivation is from Ó Seanaigh, "descendant of Seanach", which yielded the surnames Shanahan and Shannon.[2]

Namesake

[edit]

The name Sionainn alludes to Sionna, a goddess in Irish mythology whose name means 'possessor of wisdom'. She is the namesake and matron of Sionainn, the River Shannon. The Shannon is the longest river in Ireland[3] and in the British Isles.[4]

Sionainn is one of seven rivers of knowledge said to flow from Connla's Well, the well of wisdom in the Celtic Otherworld (the realm of the dead). Legends vary about the creation of the river, but they all recount the drowning of the Sionna, granddaughter of the great sea god Lir, usually at an undersea well. [5]

According to the legend, nine sacred hazel (or, by some accounts, rowan) trees grow near the well, and drop their bright red fruit in it and on the ground.[6][7] In the well live the Salmon of Knowledge, whose wisdom comes from eating this fruit. By eating the fruit or one of the salmon, one can share in this wisdom.[8]

Shortened forms

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Shana and Shanna are familiar diminutives or forms of Shannon[9] or Sionna.

Popularity

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In the United States, the name first appeared on the Social Security Administration's list in 1881 for males.[10] During the 1970s, American parents began to confer the name on boys and girls alike. It was during this time that the name's popularity peaked in the United States. In the 1990 United States Census, Shannon was the 317th most common name for American males.[citation needed]

Women

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Men

[edit]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Wood, Thomas. An Inquiry concerning the Primitive Inhabitants of Ireland. London, 1821. 117. Print.
  2. ^ "Shannon Name Meaning & Origin". Baby Name Wizard. Retrieved 2019-02-26.
  3. ^ Campbell, Mike. "Shannon". Behind the Name. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  4. ^ Cooper, Aiveen (2011). The River Shannon: A Journey Down Ireland's Longest River. Cork: Collins Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-84889-107-4. OCLC 751791624.
  5. ^ Bulik, Mark. The Sons of Molly Maguire: The Irish Roots of America's First Labor War. Fordham University Press, 2015. Print.
  6. ^ Domhnaill, Fadó. Tales of Lesser Known Irish History. Leicestershire, UK: Matador, 2013.
  7. ^ Fuchs, Elinor; Chaudhuri, Una, eds. (2002). Land/Scape/Theater. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. p. 65. ISBN 0-472-06720-6. OCLC 49618732. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  8. ^ O'Grady, Standish (1878). History of Ireland: The Heroic Period. Library of English Literature. London: Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington. OCLC 28088025.
  9. ^ Lansky, Bruce. 10,000 Baby Names. New York, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1985. 65. Print.
  10. ^ popular name list
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