Shonda

Shonda is a feminine given name of English coinage, likely created in the mid-20th century as a blend of the popular sounds found in Shawna and Rhonda. While often considered a modern invented name, its roots trace through the Shawna chain ultimately to the Irish name Seán, an Irish form of John via Old French Jehan. Thus, Shonda shares distant etymological ties to the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning “Yahweh is gracious.”

History

The circa-Baby-Boom era saw a penchant for rhyming feminine names like Rhonda, Donna, and today's featured name. Southern US states or African-American communities tend to produce and favor blend names, though Shonda rose to broader attention via television producer Shonda Rhimes (born 1970), recently one of broadcast’s most prominent figures. The variant Shawnda and the prefix form LaShonda also arise in English names.

Notable Bearers

• Shonda Rhimes (born 1970), American television producer and screenwriter (Grey's Anatomy, Scandal)
• Shonda Kuiper, American statistician
• Shonda Stanton, American softball coach

Facts

• Meaning: Invented name, from the same phonetic patterns as Shawna and Rhonda
• Origin: English (twentieth-century coinage)
• Gender: Feminine
• Usage Regions: Primarily the United States