NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Shakti

A feminine Sanskrit name signifying divine force or empowerment.

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.

Shakti is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shakti popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 4 births.

This profile covers 26 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2011 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 26 living people in the UK are called Shakti. 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

  • Shakti ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2012, when 4 girls were registered as Shakti.
  • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shakti as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2012

4 births

Estimated living

26

2026

Meaning

What does Shakti mean?

Shakti is a name of Sanskrit origin, derived from the ancient Indian language. The word "shakti" itself means "power" or "energy" in Sanskrit, and it has been used in various Hindu texts and philosophies. The name traces its roots back to ancient Hindu mythology and religious beliefs.

In Hinduism, Shakti is often personified as the divine feminine energy, the embodiment of the creative and nurturing force of the universe. This concept is closely associated with the worship of various Hindu goddesses, such as Parvati, Durga, and Kali, who are revered as manifestations of Shakti.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Shakti can be found in the Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures. In the Rig Veda, one of the oldest texts in the world, there are hymns dedicated to the worship of the divine feminine power, often referred to as Shakti.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shakti. One of the earliest recorded examples is Shakti Singh (1601-1670), a renowned warrior and ruler from the Bundela dynasty in central India. He was known for his bravery and military prowess, and his name reflected the power and strength he embodied.

Another significant figure was Shakti Chandra Chattopadhyay (1867-1938), a Bengali writer and social reformer. He was a prominent figure in the Bengali Renaissance movement and advocated for women's education and the abolition of the caste system.

Shakti Samanta (1926-2009) was an acclaimed Indian film director and screenwriter. He directed several influential films in the Bengali cinema industry and received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest honor in cinema.

Shakti Kapoor (born 1952) is a popular Indian actor known for his work in Bollywood films. He has appeared in over 700 movies and is particularly renowned for his roles in comedic and villainous characters.

Shakti Gawain (born 1948) is an American author and pioneer in the field of personal development and self-help literature. Her book "Creative Visualization" became a bestseller and popularized the concept of using visualization techniques for personal growth and manifestation.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Shakti throughout history, each making their mark in different fields and embodying the power and energy associated with this ancient Sanskrit word.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shakti over time

The chart below shows babies named Shakti registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2011 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 Shakti, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Shakti
01234201120172024

Decades

Shakti by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shakti 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 #5339 10 3
2010s #5542 16 5

Related

Names similar to Shakti

FAQ

Shakti: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Shakti was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Shakti most popular?

The peak year on record was 2012, with 4 babies registered as Shakti in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shakti?

A feminine Sanskrit name signifying divine force or empowerment.

How many people are called Shakti in the UK?

A total of 26 babies have been registered as Shakti across the 8 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.