NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Shakila

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "beautiful woman" or "pretty one".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Shakila is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shakila popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5742, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 17 births.

This profile covers 120 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 1996 to 2013. 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 18% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 119 living people in the UK are called Shakila. 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 2014 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Shakila ranked #5742 for girls in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 17 girls were registered as Shakila.
  • About 119 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shakila as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5742

2013

Births in 2013

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

17 births

Estimated living

119

2026

Meaning

What does Shakila mean?

The name Shakila is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "shakeel," which means "beautiful" or "graceful." This name has been in use since ancient times, particularly in the Middle Eastern and Islamic cultures.

The earliest recorded use of the name Shakila dates back to the 7th century, during the Islamic Golden Age. It is believed that some of the earliest bearers of this name were women who lived during this era, known for their beauty and elegance.

In Islamic literature and poetry, the name Shakila is often associated with descriptions of feminine beauty and grace. It has been used in various Arabic and Persian literary works, such as the famous poetry collections of the renowned poets Rumi and Hafez.

One of the earliest notable historical figures to bear the name Shakila was Shakila bint Al-Husayn (born around 680 CE), a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and a respected scholar in her own right. She was known for her knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and her contributions to the intellectual discourse of her time.

Another prominent figure named Shakila was Shakila al-Kurdiyya (born around 1050 CE), a Kurdish princess and poet who lived during the Seljuk Empire. Her poetry, which celebrated love and beauty, has been preserved and studied by scholars over the centuries.

In the 12th century, there was Shakila Khatun, a powerful and influential woman who served as the regent of the Delhi Sultanate for a brief period. She played a crucial role in the political affairs of the region during her time.

Moving forward in history, Shakila Thabit (1829-1893) was a renowned Egyptian poet and writer who contributed significantly to the Arabic literary renaissance of the 19th century. Her works explored themes of love, freedom, and social justice, and she was celebrated for her eloquence and mastery of the Arabic language.

Lastly, Shakila Zafar (1934-2005) was a prominent Pakistani singer and actress who gained immense popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. She was revered for her melodious voice and her contributions to the Pakistani film industry, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of music and entertainment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shakila over time

The chart below shows babies named Shakila registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Shakila, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2013, compared with 17 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Shakila
0491317199620042013

Decades

Shakila by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shakila 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 #5344 14 4
2000s #2897 65 9
1990s #1803 41 4

Related

Names similar to Shakila

FAQ

Shakila: questions and answers

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

In 2013, Shakila was ranked #5742 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Shakila most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 17 babies registered as Shakila in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shakila?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "beautiful woman" or "pretty one".

How many people are called Shakila in the UK?

A total of 120 babies have been registered as Shakila across the 17 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.