Shadow means shade or dark image — from the Old English sceadu. A shadow IS the most mysteriously inseparable companion — it follows everywhere AND changes with the light. Two syllables of the most mysteriously inseparable, follows-everywhere, and Old English dark-image.
A shadow IS the most mysteriously inseparable.Follows everywhere AND changes with light.Two syllables with a dark, English sound: SHAD-oh.Shad and Ow are both embedded.The most directly mysterious-companion name.
A shadow IS the most mysteriously inseparable companion — follows everywhere, changes with light.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Old English.
3
Today
Shadow remains a beloved choice, ranking #6794 in the US. 1,089 babies have been named Shadow since 1974.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, SSA data
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How popular is Shadow?
1993peak year
The name Shadow reached its peak in 1993, with 36 registrations (ranked #2202). It had only entered records 19 years earlier, in 1974. Since the peak, the name has eased to well outside the top 1,000 (around #6794) today, averaging about 23 new babies per year. Shadow's usage has held roughly steady recently. Across all years on record, approximately 1,089 American babies have carried this name.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
Shadow's Life Path 7 is the seeker's number — dark seeking. People named Shadow tend to be dark, mysterious, and gifted at being the most inseparably following companion.
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