UK name, mostly boys
Shahan
A Persian name meaning "emperor" or "king of kings".
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.
Shahan is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Shahan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1402, with 19 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 19 births.
This profile covers 217 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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.
Shahan is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 216 living people in the UK are called Shahan. 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
- • Shahan ranked #1402 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 19 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 19 boys were registered as Shahan.
- • About 216 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shahan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 98.6% of Shahan registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1402
2024
Births in 2024
19
Latest year
Peak year
2024
19 births
Estimated living
216
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Shahan
In England and Wales birth records, Shahan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 98.6% of registrations are for boys and 1.4% 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.
Shahan registered for boys
- Ranked #1,402 in 2024
- 19 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (19 births)
Shahan registered for girls
- Ranked #5,876 in 2012
- 3 girls registered in 2012
- Peak: 2012 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Shahan mean?
The name Shahan has its roots in the Persian language and culture, originating in ancient Persia (modern-day Iran) and surrounding regions. It is derived from the Persian word "shah," meaning "king" or "sovereign," and the suffix "-an," which denotes belonging or possession. Together, the name Shahan can be interpreted to mean "belonging to the king" or "of the king."
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Shahan can be found in the Persian epic poem, the Shahnameh (Book of Kings), written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th and early 11th centuries. In this literary masterpiece, Shahan is mentioned as the name of a character, although the specific context and details are not widely known.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Shahan. One of the earliest recorded examples is Shahan Shah, a Persian ruler who governed the region of Khuzestan in present-day southwestern Iran during the 11th century. Another historical figure with this name is Shahan Armen, a prominent Armenian military commander who played a significant role in the defense of the city of Ani (now in modern-day Turkey) against the Seljuk Turks in the 11th century.
In the realm of literature, Shahan Shushteri was a renowned Persian poet and writer who lived in the 14th century. His works, which included poetry and prose, were highly regarded and influenced the literary landscape of his time.
Moving forward in history, Shahan Khawaja was a prominent Muslim scholar and Sufi mystic who lived in the 16th century. He was known for his spiritual teachings and writings, which had a lasting impact on the Islamic intellectual tradition.
In more recent times, Shahan Mahmoud was an influential Kurdish political leader and activist who played a pivotal role in the Kurdish nationalist movement in the 20th century. Born in 1900 in present-day Iraq, he dedicated his life to advocating for the rights and self-determination of the Kurdish people.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Shahan, showcasing its rich cultural heritage and historical significance within the Persian and broader Middle Eastern context.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shahan over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Shahan 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 Shahan, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 19 births in 2024, compared with 19 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shahan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shahan 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 | #2041 | 60 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2324 | 84 | 9 |
| 2000s | #2773 | 54 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2218 | 19 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Shahan
- 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
Shahan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shahan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Shahan was ranked #1402 for boys in England and Wales, with 19 births registered.
When was Shahan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 19 babies registered as Shahan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shahan?
A Persian name meaning "emperor" or "king of kings".
How many people are called Shahan in the UK?
A total of 217 babies have been registered as Shahan across the 28 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.