UK girl's name
Shahara
A feminine Arabic name meaning "famous" or "renowned".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2004. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shahara is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shahara popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2004 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3197, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 5 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1997 to 2004. 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.
Shahara is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Shahara. 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 2005 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shahara ranked #3197 for girls in England and Wales in 2004, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 5 girls were registered as Shahara.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shahara as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3197
2004
Births in 2004
5
Latest year
Peak year
2004
5 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Shahara mean?
The name Shahara has its origins in ancient Persian culture, dating back to the 6th century BC. It is believed to be derived from the Persian word "shahr," meaning "city" or "town," and the suffix "-ara," which denotes beauty or grace. This suggests that the name Shahara may have initially been associated with urban elegance or the radiance of a city.
One of the earliest known references to the name Shahara can be found in the ancient Persian epic poem, the Shahnameh, written by the celebrated poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century AD. In this literary masterpiece, Shahara is mentioned as the name of a beautiful and virtuous princess, renowned for her wisdom and compassion.
Throughout the centuries, the name Shahara has been borne by several notable figures. One of the most famous bearers of this name was Shahara Begum (1528-1604), a powerful Mughal empress and the wife of Emperor Humayun. She played a crucial role in securing the Mughal throne for her son, the legendary Akbar the Great, and is remembered for her political acumen and patronage of the arts.
Another historical figure of significance was Shahara Banu (1677-1756), a prominent Persian poet and calligrapher. Her works, known for their lyrical beauty and deep spiritual themes, were widely acclaimed during her lifetime and continue to be studied and admired by scholars and literature enthusiasts alike.
In the realm of Islamic mysticism, Shahara al-Baghdadiyya (1090-1155) was a revered Sufi saint and spiritual teacher. Her teachings and writings on the path of divine love and self-realization had a profound impact on the Sufi tradition and continue to inspire seekers of spiritual enlightenment to this day.
Shahara Khanum (1805-1882), a prominent figure in the Ottoman Empire, was an influential poet and patron of the arts. Her literary salons in Istanbul attracted intellectuals and artists from across the region, and her poetry, which celebrated the beauty of nature and the human experience, earned her widespread acclaim.
While the name Shahara has its roots in ancient Persian culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and has been embraced by various communities throughout history, each imbuing it with their own cultural significance and interpretations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shahara over time
The chart below shows babies named Shahara registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2004. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shahara, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2004, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shahara by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shahara 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 | #3197 | 5 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3174 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Shahara
- 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
Shahara: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shahara in the UK right now?
In 2004, Shahara was ranked #3197 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Shahara most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 5 babies registered as Shahara in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shahara?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "famous" or "renowned".
How many people are called Shahara in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Shahara across the 2 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.