UK girl's name
Shakeela
A lovely feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "beautiful" or "graceful".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2004. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shakeela is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shakeela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2004 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4598, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 10 births.
This profile covers 31 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1996 to 2004. 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 31 living people in the UK are called Shakeela. 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 2005 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shakeela ranked #4598 for girls in England and Wales in 2004, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 10 girls were registered as Shakeela.
- • About 31 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shakeela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4598
2004
Births in 2004
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
10 births
Estimated living
31
2026
Meaning
What does Shakeela mean?
Shakeela is a feminine name with origins in the Arabic language. It is derived from the Arabic word "shakeel," which means "beautiful" or "graceful." The name gained popularity in the Middle East and parts of North Africa during the medieval period, particularly among Muslim communities.
One of the earliest known references to the name Shakeela can be found in Arabic literature from the 9th century. It was used as a descriptive term to praise the beauty and elegance of women. Over time, it evolved into a given name, reflecting the cultural and linguistic influences of the region.
During the golden age of Islamic civilization, the name Shakeela appeared in various historical records and literary works. It was often associated with poetry, art, and cultural expressions that celebrated feminine beauty and grace. Some notable individuals who bore this name include:
1. Shakeela bint Al-Hussain (c. 850-920), a renowned Arabic poet and scholar from modern-day Iraq, who was praised for her literary contributions and intellectual prowess.
2. Shakeela Al-Andalusiyya (c. 1050-1130), a celebrated Andalusian musician and singer from the Iberian Peninsula, known for her virtuosity and melodic compositions.
3. Shakeela bint Malik (c. 1200-1270), a influential Persian architect and engineer who oversaw the construction of several monumental buildings and bridges in the region.
4. Shakeela Al-Dimashqi (c. 1300-1380), a Syrian calligrapher and artist renowned for her intricate and elegant calligraphic works, which adorned numerous manuscripts and architectural structures.
5. Shakeela Al-Qahirah (c. 1450-1520), an Egyptian mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the development of advanced astronomical instruments.
The name Shakeela continued to be used across various parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and the Islamic world, carrying with it the connotations of beauty, grace, and cultural refinement. Its enduring popularity over the centuries reflects the rich heritage and cultural traditions associated with this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shakeela over time
The chart below shows babies named Shakeela registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2004. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shakeela, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2004, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shakeela by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shakeela 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3813 | 14 | 4 |
| 1990s | #2880 | 17 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Shakeela
- 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
Shakeela: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shakeela in the UK right now?
In 2004, Shakeela was ranked #4598 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shakeela most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 10 babies registered as Shakeela in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shakeela?
A lovely feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "beautiful" or "graceful".
How many people are called Shakeela in the UK?
A total of 31 babies have been registered as Shakeela across the 7 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.