NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Shahnaz

A feminine Persian name meaning "supreme beauty" or "beautiful like a queen".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Shahnaz is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shahnaz popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5691, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 10 births.

This profile covers 63 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 1996 to 2014. 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 63 living people in the UK are called Shahnaz. 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 2015 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Shahnaz ranked #5691 for girls in England and Wales in 2014, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 10 girls were registered as Shahnaz.
  • About 63 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shahnaz as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5691

2014

Births in 2014

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

10 births

Estimated living

63

2026

Meaning

What does Shahnaz mean?

The name Shahnaz has its roots in the Persian language, originating from the combination of two words: "shah" meaning king or monarch, and "naz" meaning coquetry, charm, or grace. This name traces its origins back to the medieval Persian era, when it was commonly used among the nobility and upper classes.

The earliest known historical reference to the name Shahnaz can be found in Persian literature and poetry from the 10th century AD. It was often used as a poetic term to describe a beautiful and graceful woman, particularly one with regal qualities or associated with royalty.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Shahnaz was a Persian princess who lived in the 11th century during the Ghaznavid Empire. She was known for her beauty, intelligence, and patronage of the arts and literature.

In the 13th century, there was a famous Persian poet and mystic named Shahnaz Ganjavi, who wrote extensively on the themes of love, spirituality, and the divine. Her works were highly regarded and influential during her time.

Another notable figure was Shahnaz Begum, a Mughal princess and the daughter of Emperor Aurangzeb, who ruled the Indian subcontinent in the late 17th century. She was renowned for her intelligence, political acumen, and involvement in the affairs of the empire.

In more recent history, Shahnaz Husain, born in 1937, is a prominent Indian entrepreneur and founder of the Shahnaz Husain Group, a leading beauty and wellness brand. She is widely recognized for her contributions to the beauty industry and for promoting Ayurvedic and natural skincare products.

Shahnaz Parid, born in 1962, is a renowned Afghan singer and musician, known for her powerful vocals and contributions to preserving and promoting Afghan cultural heritage through her music. She has received numerous accolades and awards for her work.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shahnaz over time

The chart below shows babies named Shahnaz registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2014. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Shahnaz, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2014, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Shahnaz
035810199620052014

Decades

Shahnaz by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shahnaz 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 #5691 3 1
2000s #3705 30 6
1990s #2114 30 4

Related

Names similar to Shahnaz

FAQ

Shahnaz: questions and answers

How popular is the name Shahnaz in the UK right now?

In 2014, Shahnaz was ranked #5691 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Shahnaz most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 10 babies registered as Shahnaz in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shahnaz?

A feminine Persian name meaning "supreme beauty" or "beautiful like a queen".

How many people are called Shahnaz in the UK?

A total of 63 babies have been registered as Shahnaz across the 11 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.