what was the shakers formal name? Wasn't it the "Shaking Quakers"?

Apparently they had a much longer formal name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakers

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ihas/icon/shakers.html

United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing?

Yes.

Yes, you are correct! The formal name of the Shakers, a religious group that originated in the United States in the 18th century, was indeed the "United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing." However, they were colloquially referred to as the "Shakers" due to the unique and distinctive shaking movements they incorporated into their worship practices.

To find this information, you can perform a simple internet search using keywords such as "Shakers formal name" or "origin of the name Shakers." You will come across various sources, including reputable websites, books, or scholarly articles, that provide historical information about the Shakers and their name. Additionally, specific resources focused on the history of the Shakers or religious movements in general will provide more in-depth information about their formal name and the reasons behind their nickname.