NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Shaid

A diminutive Arabic name derived from "shaheed" meaning "witness" or "martyr".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1996. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Shaid is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Shaid popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1996 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2863, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1996 to 1996. 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.

Shaid is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Shaid. 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 1997 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Shaid ranked #2863 for boys in England and Wales in 1996, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 boys were registered as Shaid.
  • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shaid as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2863

1996

Births in 1996

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

3 births

Estimated living

3

2026

Meaning

What does Shaid mean?

The given name Shaid has its origins in the Arabic language, tracing back to the early medieval period in the Middle East. It is derived from the Arabic word "shayid," which means "witness" or "martyr." The name carries a religious significance in the Islamic faith, often associated with those who were willing to bear witness to their beliefs, even at the cost of their lives.

One of the earliest known references to the name Shaid can be found in historical accounts of the Islamic conquests and the spread of Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries. During this time, many individuals were revered for their unwavering commitment to their faith, and the name Shaid was bestowed upon those who embodied this spirit of martyrdom.

The first recorded instance of the name Shaid appears in the writings of medieval Islamic scholars and historians, who documented the lives and deeds of prominent figures from that era. One such individual was Shaid ibn Abi Waqqas (609-670 CE), a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and a respected military leader who participated in several significant battles.

In later centuries, the name Shaid continued to be used among Muslim communities, particularly in regions where Arabic was the predominant language or had a strong cultural influence. Notable historical figures bearing this name include Shaid al-Din al-Tusi (1201-1274 CE), a renowned Persian mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher, and Shaid al-Din Muhammad Khwarazmi (1170-1221 CE), a celebrated Islamic jurist and scholar of Hanafi jurisprudence.

During the Ottoman Empire's reign, the name Shaid gained further prominence. One prominent individual was Shaid Pasha (1550-1617 CE), an Ottoman Grand Vizier and military commander who played a crucial role in the empire's expansion and consolidation of power in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Another notable figure was Shaid al-Din Ayni (1360-1451 CE), a Turkish historian and author who served as the chief judge of the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Sultan Murad II. His extensive writings on Islamic law, history, and literature have been widely studied and referenced by scholars over the centuries.

While these are just a few examples, the name Shaid has been carried by numerous individuals throughout history, each contributing to the rich tapestry of Islamic culture, scholarship, and military prowess.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Shaid by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shaid 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
1990s #2863 3 1

Related

Names similar to Shaid

FAQ

Shaid: questions and answers

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

In 1996, Shaid was ranked #2863 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Shaid most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Shaid in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shaid?

A diminutive Arabic name derived from "shaheed" meaning "witness" or "martyr".

How many people are called Shaid in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Shaid 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.