NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Shakela

An Arabic feminine name possibly meaning "graceful and beautiful woman".

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.

Shakela is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shakela 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 1998, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1998 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Shakela. 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

  • Shakela ranked #4598 for girls in England and Wales in 2004, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1998, when 3 girls were registered as Shakela.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shakela 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

1998

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Shakela mean?

The name Shakela has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, with its origins dating back to the 7th century CE. It is believed to be derived from the Arabic word "shakala," which means "to form" or "to shape." This name is often associated with the concepts of creation, formation, and beauty.

In the early days of Islam, the name Shakela was relatively uncommon, but it gained popularity in certain regions of the Middle East and North Africa. One of the earliest recorded instances of this name can be found in the writings of the famous Arab scholar and poet Al-Jahiz, who lived in the 9th century CE.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shakela. One such person was Shakela bint Al-Husayn, a highly respected Islamic scholar and poet who lived in the 10th century CE in present-day Iraq. She was renowned for her vast knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and her contributions to the literary arts.

Another notable figure was Shakela Al-Andalusi, a renowned physician and philosopher who lived in the 12th century CE in Andalusia, which was then part of the Islamic world. She was a pioneer in the field of medicine and made significant contributions to the study of anatomy and physiology.

In the 13th century CE, Shakela Al-Baghdadi was a prominent calligrapher and artist who hailed from Baghdad. Her intricate calligraphic works were highly sought after and adorned the walls of many mosques and palaces throughout the region.

Moving forward in time, Shakela Al-Fasi was a celebrated poet and writer who lived in the 16th century CE in Fez, Morocco. Her poetry was widely acclaimed for its beautiful imagery and profound insights into the human condition.

Lastly, Shakela Al-Misri was a notable Egyptian educator and activist who lived in the 19th century CE. She dedicated her life to promoting women's education and empowerment, establishing several schools and advocating for social reform.

While the name Shakela may not be as common today as it once was, it carries a rich historical legacy and continues to be a reminder of the vibrant cultural heritage of the Arab world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shakela over time

The chart below shows babies named Shakela registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Shakela, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2004, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Shakela
01223199820012004

Decades

Shakela by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shakela 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 #4598 3 1
1990s #3848 3 1

Related

Names similar to Shakela

FAQ

Shakela: questions and answers

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

In 2004, Shakela was ranked #4598 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Shakela most popular?

The peak year on record was 1998, with 3 babies registered as Shakela in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shakela?

An Arabic feminine name possibly meaning "graceful and beautiful woman".

How many people are called Shakela in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Shakela 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.