UK girl's name
Shailah
Of Arabic origin, meaning "longing" or "prayer.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shailah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shailah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4049, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 5 births.
This profile covers 8 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2010 to 2011. 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.
Shailah is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 8 living people in the UK are called Shailah. 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 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shailah ranked #4049 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 5 girls were registered as Shailah.
- • About 8 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shailah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4049
2011
Births in 2011
5
Latest year
Peak year
2011
5 births
Estimated living
8
2026
Meaning
What does Shailah mean?
The name Shailah is of Hebrew origin and is believed to have its roots in the ancient Semitic languages of the Middle East. The name is derived from the Hebrew word "shalom," which means peace or tranquility. It is thought to have been used as a name for girls during biblical times.
One of the earliest known references to the name Shailah can be found in the Book of Genesis, where it is mentioned as the name of a place or region. The exact meaning and significance of this reference is not entirely clear, but it suggests that the name has been in use for thousands of years.
In the Middle Ages, the name Shailah was occasionally used by Jewish communities in Europe and the Middle East. However, it was not particularly common during this period.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Shailah was Shailah ben Avi (born around 1300), a Jewish scholar and commentator who lived in Spain during the 14th century. He was known for his work on the Talmud and other Jewish texts.
Another notable figure with the name Shailah was Shailah Marli (1620-1688), a Dutch-Jewish poet and writer who lived in Amsterdam during the 17th century. She was known for her religious and secular poetry, which explored themes of faith and spirituality.
In the 18th century, Shailah Abramovich (1712-1784) was a prominent Jewish scholar and rabbi who lived in Eastern Europe. He was renowned for his expertise in Jewish law and his teachings on the Talmud.
In the 19th century, Shailah Rothschild (1822-1899) was a member of the famous Rothschild banking family and was known for her philanthropic work and support of Jewish causes.
More recently, Shailah Peller (1908-1996) was a Canadian writer and journalist who wrote extensively about Jewish culture and history. She was also a prominent advocate for women's rights and social justice issues.
While the name Shailah has roots in ancient Hebrew and has been used intermittently throughout history, it has never been a particularly common name in any culture or time period. However, its meaning and associations with peace and tranquility have made it a meaningful and significant name for those who have borne it.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shailah over time
The chart below shows babies named Shailah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shailah, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2011, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shailah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shailah 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 | #4878 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Shailah
- 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
Shailah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shailah in the UK right now?
In 2011, Shailah was ranked #4049 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Shailah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 5 babies registered as Shailah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shailah?
Of Arabic origin, meaning "longing" or "prayer.".
How many people are called Shailah in the UK?
A total of 8 babies have been registered as Shailah 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.