UK name, mostly boys
Shaan
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "glory" or "honor".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 296 girls.
Shaan is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Shaan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1199, with 23 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 50 births.
This profile covers 917 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 46% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 913 living people in the UK are called Shaan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shaan ranked #1199 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 23 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 50 boys were registered as Shaan.
- • Shaan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #429 in 2000.
- • Shaan is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 913 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shaan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 75.6% of Shaan registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1199
2024
Births in 2024
23
Latest year
Peak year
2010
50 births
Estimated living
913
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Shaan
In England and Wales birth records, Shaan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 75.6% of registrations are for boys and 24.4% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Shaan registered for boys
- Ranked #1,199 in 2024
- 23 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2010 (50 births)
Shaan registered for girls
- Ranked #4,843 in 2024
- 4 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2009 (18 births)
Meaning
What does Shaan mean?
The name Shaan has its origins in the Persian language, and it is believed to have been in use since ancient times. The name is derived from the Persian word "Shāh," which means "king" or "monarch." This connection to royalty and power has given the name a strong and regal connotation throughout its history.
In ancient Persia, the name Shaan was often associated with the ruling class and the nobility. It was a popular choice among the Persian aristocracy and was frequently bestowed upon princes and other high-ranking members of the royal family. The name's roots can be traced back to the Achaemenid Empire, which ruled over much of the ancient Middle East from the 6th to 4th centuries BCE.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Shaan was Shaan Bahlol, a Persian poet and philosopher who lived during the 10th century CE. He was renowned for his contributions to Persian literature and his profound philosophical works, which explored various aspects of human existence and the nature of the universe.
In the realm of religion, the name Shaan holds significance in both Islamic and Zoroastrian traditions. In Islamic texts, the word "Shaan" is sometimes used to refer to the exalted status or majesty of God. Additionally, there have been several notable Islamic scholars and religious figures throughout history who bore the name Shaan.
Another prominent figure with the name Shaan was Shaan Bahadur, a renowned Indian warrior and military commander who lived during the 16th century. He served under the Mughal Emperor Akbar and played a crucial role in many of the empire's military campaigns, earning a reputation for his bravery and strategic acumen.
In more recent times, the name Shaan has been carried by several influential individuals across various fields. Shaan Shahid (born 1981) is a renowned Pakistani actor and producer who has starred in numerous Bollywood and Lollywood films, contributing significantly to the entertainment industry in South Asia.
Shaan Masood (born 1989) is a Pakistani cricketer who has represented the national team in all three formats of the game. He is widely regarded as one of the most talented and consistent batsmen in contemporary Pakistani cricket.
Shaan Merchant (born 1979) is an Indian-American entrepreneur and investor who co-founded the popular ride-sharing service Uber. His contributions to the tech industry and his innovative business ventures have earned him recognition as a prominent figure in the field of entrepreneurship.
Overall, the name Shaan has a rich and diverse history, spanning various cultures, religions, and periods. Its regal connotations and associations with power, bravery, and achievement have made it a popular choice for parents seeking a name with strength and significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shaan over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Shaan in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shaan, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 23 births in 2024, compared with 50 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shaan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shaan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1216 | 111 | 5 |
| 2010s | #889 | 353 | 10 |
| 2000s | #663 | 372 | 10 |
| 1990s | #777 | 81 | 4 |
Geography
Where Shaan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Shaan. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Shaan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #429 in 2000.
Across the UK
Shaan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#429 in 2000
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Shaan
- Samuel 108,505
- Sebastian 33,008
- Sam 20,889
- Stanley 16,354
- Sonny 15,028
- Sean 15,006
- Scott 12,587
- Seth 9,841
- Syed 9,050
- Stephen 8,884
- Spencer 8,333
- Steven 6,970
FAQ
Shaan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shaan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Shaan was ranked #1199 for boys in England and Wales, with 23 births registered.
When was Shaan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 50 babies registered as Shaan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shaan?
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "glory" or "honor".
How many people are called Shaan in the UK?
A total of 917 babies have been registered as Shaan across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Shaan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Shaan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #429 in 2000. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.