NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Shaima

An Arabic feminine name meaning "elevated" or "lofty".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Shaima is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shaima popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3695, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 15 births.

This profile covers 177 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 40% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 176 living people in the UK are called Shaima. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Shaima ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2007, when 15 girls were registered as Shaima.
  • About 176 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shaima as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3695

2024

Births in 2024

6

Latest year

Peak year

2007

15 births

Estimated living

176

2026

Meaning

What does Shaima mean?

The name Shaima has its roots in the Arabic language and culture. It is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the regions that are now known as the Arab world, sometime during the medieval period.

The name Shaima is derived from the Arabic word "shama," which means "candle" or "light." This association with light and illumination has given the name a positive and radiant connotation in Arabic culture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shaima can be found in ancient Arabic literature and poetry. It was often used as a metaphor to describe a person's beauty or inner light, likening them to a shining candle or a guiding star.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Shaima. One of the earliest was Shaima bint Al-Harith (born in the 7th century AD), a poetess and scholar who lived during the early Islamic era and was renowned for her eloquence and wisdom.

Another prominent Shaima was Shaima Al-Andalusiyya (born in the 11th century AD), a renowned musician and singer from the Andalusian region of Spain during the Golden Age of Islamic culture. Her beautiful voice and mastery of various musical instruments made her a celebrated figure in the courts of the time.

In the 13th century, Shaima Al-Baghdadiyya (born in Baghdad, Iraq) was a respected scholar and philosopher who contributed to the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and logic. Her works were widely studied and influential in the intellectual circles of the era.

Moving forward, in the 19th century, Shaima Al-Sudani (born in Sudan) was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She established several schools for girls and fought tirelessly for equal educational opportunities in her homeland.

More recently, Shaima Rezayee (born in Afghanistan in 1988) is a prominent activist and advocate for women's rights and education. She has been recognized for her efforts in promoting literacy and empowering girls and women in her country, despite facing numerous challenges and threats.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have carried the name Shaima, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural heritage associated with this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shaima over time

The chart below shows babies named Shaima registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Shaima, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 15 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Shaima
0481115199620102024

Decades

Shaima by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shaima 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
2020s #4638 9 2
2010s #3727 55 9
2000s #2434 86 10
1990s #2250 27 4

Related

Names similar to Shaima

FAQ

Shaima: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Shaima was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Shaima most popular?

The peak year on record was 2007, with 15 babies registered as Shaima in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shaima?

An Arabic feminine name meaning "elevated" or "lofty".

How many people are called Shaima in the UK?

A total of 177 babies have been registered as Shaima across the 25 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.