UK boy's name
Shakur
Arabic name meaning "thankful" or "grateful".
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.
Shakur is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Shakur popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2921, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 12 births.
This profile covers 186 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1997 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 58% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 185 living people in the UK are called Shakur. 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
- • Shakur ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 12 boys were registered as Shakur.
- • About 185 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shakur as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2921
2024
Births in 2024
7
Latest year
Peak year
2005
12 births
Estimated living
185
2026
Meaning
What does Shakur mean?
The name Shakur has its origins in the Arabic language. It is derived from the Arabic word 'shakara' which means 'to be thankful' or 'to express gratitude'. The name is believed to have emerged in the Middle East during the early centuries of the Islamic era.
Shakur is mentioned in religious Islamic texts, including the Quran, as a name or attribute of God, referring to His quality of being the Most Appreciative or the Bestower of Gratitude. In the Quran, the name appears in verses such as Surah Ibrahim (14:5) and Surah Fatir (35:30).
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Shakur was Shakur ibn Rabi'ah, a renowned Arabic poet who lived in the 7th century CE. He was known for his eloquent verses and is considered one of the most influential poets of the Umayyad era.
Another notable historical figure with the name Shakur was Shakur al-Nabil, a prominent Arab philosopher and theologian who lived in the 9th century CE. He was a disciple of the famous scholar Al-Ghazali and made significant contributions to the field of Islamic philosophy.
In the 12th century, Shakur al-Dimashqi was a notable Syrian architect and engineer. He is credited with the construction of several notable buildings, including the Citadel of Aleppo, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Moving to more recent times, Shakur Stevenson is an American professional boxer who was born in 1997. He won a silver medal in the featherweight division at the 2016 Rio Olympics and has since won multiple world championship titles in the professional ranks.
Tupac Amaru Shakur, born in 1971 and tragically killed in 1996, was a renowned American rapper, actor, and activist. He is considered one of the most influential and iconic figures in the history of hip-hop music, and his poetry and lyrics often explored themes of social injustice, violence, and the struggles of urban life.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Shakur throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultures and societies across the globe.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shakur over time
The chart below shows babies named Shakur registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Shakur, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shakur by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shakur 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 | #3121 | 32 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3491 | 52 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2038 | 84 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1381 | 18 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Shakur
- 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
Shakur: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shakur in the UK right now?
In 2024, Shakur was ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Shakur most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 12 babies registered as Shakur in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shakur?
Arabic name meaning "thankful" or "grateful".
How many people are called Shakur in the UK?
A total of 186 babies have been registered as Shakur across the 27 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.