UK girl's name
Shabnam
A Persian name for girls meaning "night dew" or "morning dew".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shabnam is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shabnam popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4736, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 19 births.
This profile covers 164 England and Wales registrations across 20 recorded years from 1996 to 2015. 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 21% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 166 living people in the UK are called Shabnam. 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 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shabnam ranked #4736 for girls in England and Wales in 2015, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 19 girls were registered as Shabnam.
- • Shabnam ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #535 in 1979.
- • About 166 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shabnam as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4736
2015
Births in 2015
4
Latest year
Peak year
1996
19 births
Estimated living
166
2026
Meaning
What does Shabnam mean?
Shabnam is a Persian name that originated in ancient Persia, modern-day Iran. The name is derived from the Persian words "shab" meaning night and "nam" meaning moisture or dew. Together, Shabnam translates to "night dew" or "morning dew."
The name has its roots in the rich cultural and literary heritage of Persia. It is believed to have been used as a poetic reference to the beauty and freshness of the morning dew in classical Persian literature. The name gained popularity during the golden age of Persian poetry, particularly in the works of renowned poets such as Hafez and Rumi.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Shabnam can be found in the ancient Persian epic, the Shahnameh, written by the legendary poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. In this epic, Shabnam is mentioned as the name of a beautiful princess.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Shabnam. One of the most famous was Shabnam Goli (1911-1992), an Iranian actress and singer who was widely celebrated for her contributions to the Iranian cinema and music industry.
Another prominent figure with this name was Shabnam Shakeel (1942-1973), a Pakistani poet and writer known for her influential works in Urdu literature. Her poetry explored themes of love, spirituality, and the challenges faced by women in society.
In India, Shabnam Asmi (born 1957) is a renowned Urdu poet and author who has received numerous accolades for her literary works, including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award.
Shabnam Virmani (born 1957) is an Indian documentary filmmaker and activist who has produced several critically acclaimed films highlighting social and environmental issues.
Shabnam Majeed (born 1971) is a Pakistani singer and songwriter who has gained popularity for her fusion of traditional Pakistani music with contemporary styles.
The name Shabnam has been embraced across various cultures and regions, transcending its Persian origins. Its poetic and evocative meaning has contributed to its enduring appeal, making it a popular choice for parents seeking a name that celebrates the beauty of nature and the literary heritage of the region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shabnam over time
The chart below shows babies named Shabnam registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shabnam, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2015, compared with 19 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shabnam by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shabnam 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4689 | 26 | 6 |
| 2000s | #2529 | 76 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1235 | 62 | 4 |
Geography
Where Shabnam is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Shabnam. 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.
Shabnam ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #535 in 1979.
Across the UK
Shabnam in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#535 in 1979
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Shabnam
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Shabnam: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shabnam in the UK right now?
In 2015, Shabnam was ranked #4736 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Shabnam most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 19 babies registered as Shabnam in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shabnam?
A Persian name for girls meaning "night dew" or "morning dew".
How many people are called Shabnam in the UK?
A total of 164 babies have been registered as Shabnam across the 20 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Shabnam most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Shabnam ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #535 in 1979. 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.