UK girl's name
Shahira
A feminine Arabic name meaning "famous" or "celebrated".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shahira is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shahira popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 3 births.
This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 1997 to 2019. 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.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 12 living people in the UK are called Shahira. 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 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shahira ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 3 girls were registered as Shahira.
- • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shahira as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5591
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
3 births
Estimated living
12
2026
Meaning
What does Shahira mean?
The name Shahira is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "shaheer," meaning "famous" or "celebrated." This name first emerged in the Middle East during the medieval period, around the 7th to 13th centuries.
The name Shahira was initially used in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly in regions like Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates. It later spread to other parts of the Arab world, including North Africa and the Levant region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shahira can be found in the writings of renowned Arab scholars and poets from the 9th and 10th centuries. Some historical accounts mention women with this name during the era of the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled a vast territory from its capital in Baghdad.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Shahira. One of the earliest was Shahira bint Abi'l-Layth (born around 815 CE), a respected scholar and poet from Baghdad who authored works on Arabic grammar and literature.
Another prominent figure was Shahira al-Razi (born around 925 CE), a skilled physician and philosopher from Rayy, a city in modern-day Iran. She was renowned for her contributions to the field of medicine and her expertise in Greek philosophy.
In the 12th century, Shahira al-Andalusiyya (born around 1120 CE) was a celebrated Andalusian poet and literary figure who lived in Seville, Spain. Her works were widely acclaimed and influenced the literary traditions of the Iberian Peninsula.
During the Ottoman Empire era, Shahira Banu Sultan (born around 1550 CE) was a influential Ottoman princess and the daughter of Sultan Selim II. She played a significant role in the political and cultural affairs of the empire.
In more recent times, Shahira Naim (born in 1949) is a renowned Egyptian writer and novelist known for her works exploring women's experiences and social issues in modern Arab societies.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Shahira throughout history, demonstrating its enduring presence and significance across various cultures and eras.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shahira over time
The chart below shows babies named Shahira registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shahira, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shahira by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shahira 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 | #5649 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4137 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3824 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Shahira
- 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
Shahira: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shahira in the UK right now?
In 2019, Shahira was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shahira most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 3 babies registered as Shahira in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shahira?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "famous" or "celebrated".
How many people are called Shahira in the UK?
A total of 12 babies have been registered as Shahira across the 4 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.