UK girl's name
Shaela
A feminine name of English origin meaning "from the meadow of the hut".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2008. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shaela is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shaela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2008 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5545, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2008 to 2008. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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.
Shaela is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Shaela. 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 2009 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shaela ranked #5545 for girls in England and Wales in 2008, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 3 girls were registered as Shaela.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shaela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5545
2008
Births in 2008
3
Latest year
Peak year
2008
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Shaela mean?
The name Shaela is believed to have its origins in the Gaelic language, which is spoken in Scotland, Ireland, and parts of Canada and the United States. It is thought to be derived from the Irish word "saol," which means "life" or "world." The name is also sometimes spelled as Shayla or Sheila.
In ancient Irish mythology, Shaela was the name of a beautiful and powerful goddess associated with fertility, abundance, and the cycle of life. She was often depicted with flowing hair and holding a cornucopia, symbolizing her connection to the earth's bounty.
The earliest recorded use of the name Shaela dates back to the 12th century, when it appeared in Irish historical records and manuscripts. During the Middle Ages, the name was popular among Irish nobility and was often given to daughters as a symbol of hope and prosperity.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Shaela was Shaela Ní Dhomhnaill, born in 1267, who was a prominent Irish noblewoman and patron of the arts. She was renowned for her patronage of poets and musicians, and her legacy helped to preserve much of Ireland's rich cultural heritage.
Another notable figure with the name Shaela was Shaela MacNeill, born in 1534, who was a Scottish warrior and leader during the Scottish Clan Wars. She was known for her bravery and tactical skills on the battlefield, and her exploits were celebrated in traditional Scottish ballads and songs.
In the 17th century, Shaela O'Brien, born in 1612, was a renowned Irish poet and writer who wrote extensively about the struggles of the Irish people during the English colonization of Ireland. Her works were instrumental in preserving the Irish language and cultural traditions during a period of great turmoil.
In more recent history, Shaela Stokes, born in 1912, was an American civil rights activist and educator who fought tirelessly for racial equality and desegregation in the American South. She played a pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and was a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Shaela Blackwood, born in 1942, was a Jamaican author and playwright whose works explored themes of identity, race, and the Caribbean experience. Her plays, such as "Sugar Cane Sweet" and "The Ritual," were widely acclaimed and helped to bring Caribbean literature to a global audience.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Shaela by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shaela 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #5545 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Shaela
- 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
Shaela: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shaela in the UK right now?
In 2008, Shaela was ranked #5545 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shaela most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 3 babies registered as Shaela in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shaela?
A feminine name of English origin meaning "from the meadow of the hut".
How many people are called Shaela in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Shaela across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.