UK boy's name
Shakeel
Of Arabic origin, meaning one who is thankful or appreciative.
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.
Shakeel is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Shakeel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 24 births.
This profile covers 397 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 21% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 398 living people in the UK are called Shakeel. 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
- • Shakeel ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 24 boys were registered as Shakeel.
- • Shakeel ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #276 in 1983.
- • About 398 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shakeel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
1999
24 births
Estimated living
398
2026
Meaning
What does Shakeel mean?
The name Shakeel is of Arabic origin and has its roots in the word "shakala," which means "to form" or "to shape." It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period in the Middle East.
The name Shakeel was initially associated with artisans and craftsmen, particularly those involved in shaping and forming various materials into intricate designs. It carried connotations of skill, precision, and attention to detail.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shakeel can be found in the writings of Ibn Battuta, a renowned Moroccan scholar and explorer from the 14th century. In his travelogues, he mentions encountering a skilled metalworker named Shakeel during his journey through the Persian territories.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Shakeel. One such individual was Shakeel Badayuni, a renowned Sufi poet and mystic who lived in the 16th century during the Mughal Empire in India. His poetic works and spiritual teachings greatly influenced the literary and cultural landscape of his time.
Another prominent figure was Shakeel Ahmad Khan, an Indian politician and freedom fighter who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. He was born in 1892 and actively participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi.
In the realm of sports, Shakeel Abbasi, a Pakistani cricketer, made his mark in the 1970s and 1980s. He represented the national team and was known for his all-round abilities as a right-arm off-break bowler and a useful lower-order batsman.
The name Shakeel also gained recognition in the field of literature with Shakeel Badayuni, a Pakistani writer and poet who lived from 1916 to 1969. His works, including poetry collections and novels, explored themes of love, spirituality, and social commentary, earning him widespread acclaim.
Another notable figure was Shakeel Siddiqui, an Indian film director and screenwriter born in 1936. He directed numerous popular Hindi films during the 1960s and 1970s, contributing significantly to the golden age of Indian cinema.
While the name Shakeel has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and found acceptance across various regions, particularly in the Middle East, South Asia, and parts of Africa.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shakeel over time
The chart below shows babies named Shakeel 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 Shakeel, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 24 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shakeel by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shakeel 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 | #3662 | 14 | 3 |
| 2010s | #1920 | 122 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1159 | 178 | 10 |
| 1990s | #766 | 83 | 4 |
Geography
Where Shakeel is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Shakeel. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Shakeel ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #276 in 1983.
Across the UK
Shakeel in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#276 in 1983
1 years of NRS records, 4 total registered
Related
Names similar to Shakeel
- Samuel 108,505
- Sebastian 33,008
- Sam 20,889
- Stanley 16,354
- Sonny 15,028
- Sean 15,006
- Scott 12,587
- Seth 9,841
- Syed 9,050
- Stephen 8,884
- Spencer 8,333
- Steven 6,970
FAQ
Shakeel: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shakeel in the UK right now?
In 2024, Shakeel was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Shakeel most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 24 babies registered as Shakeel in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shakeel?
Of Arabic origin, meaning one who is thankful or appreciative.
How many people are called Shakeel in the UK?
A total of 397 babies have been registered as Shakeel across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 4 more in Scotland.
Where is Shakeel most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Shakeel ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #276 in 1983. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.