Shawnetta is of African origin, derived from the Swahili word 'sha' meaning 'gift'. It was popularized in the United States during the late 20th century as an alternative spelling of Shawnette, which itself evolved from the male name Shawn. In some cases, Shawnetta may also be considered a variant of Shaquanda or Shauntia, names that follow a similar naming pattern. The name is often given to girls and has been used in various forms since the 1970s.
Shawnetta experienced its peak popularity between 1968 and 1984 with over 10 births each year, peaking at 18 births in both 1974 and 1978. After 1984, the number of babies named Shawnetta decreased steadily, with fewer than 10 births per year from 1985 onwards, reaching a low of 5 births in both 1986 and 1992. The total number of births with the name Shawnetta over this period was 255.