UK girl's name
Shamaila
A feminine Arabic name meaning "beautiful" or "lovely lady".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shamaila is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shamaila popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4764, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 10 births.
This profile covers 48 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 1996 to 2011. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 40% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 51 living people in the UK are called Shamaila. 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 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shamaila ranked #4764 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 10 girls were registered as Shamaila.
- • Shamaila ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #547 in 1984.
- • About 51 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shamaila as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4764
2011
Births in 2011
4
Latest year
Peak year
1996
10 births
Estimated living
51
2026
Meaning
What does Shamaila mean?
The name Shamaila has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "shamaal," which means "the north" or "northern." The name carries connotations of elegance, grace, and beauty, often associated with the northern breeze.
In ancient Islamic literature, the name Shamaila is sometimes used as a poetic reference to the gentle, refreshing northern winds that brought relief from the scorching heat of the Arabian deserts. Its connection to the natural world and the refreshing qualities of the northern breeze may have contributed to its popularity as a name choice.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Shamaila can be found in the 11th century. Shamaila bint Ahmad al-Sulamiyya was a renowned female scholar and poet from Baghdad, who lived during the Abbasid Caliphate. Her poetry and literary works have been celebrated for their eloquence and insight.
Another notable figure bearing the name Shamaila was Shamaila Begum, a 16th-century Mughal princess from the Indian subcontinent. She was the daughter of Emperor Akbar and is remembered for her patronage of the arts and her support of cultural initiatives during her father's reign.
In the modern era, Shamaila Leghari was a prominent Pakistani politician who served as the first female Governor of Sindh province from 1997 to 1999. She played a significant role in promoting women's rights and empowerment in Pakistan.
Shamaila Hashmi, born in 1964, is a well-known Pakistani artist and educator. Her work has been exhibited internationally, and she has contributed significantly to the contemporary art scene in Pakistan.
Shamaila Rehmani, born in 1975, is a Pakistani actress and model who has appeared in numerous television dramas and films. She is widely recognized for her talent and versatility as an actress in the Pakistani entertainment industry.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Shamaila, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural heritage associated with this beautiful name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shamaila over time
The chart below shows babies named Shamaila registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shamaila, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2011, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shamaila by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shamaila 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 | #4764 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3577 | 27 | 6 |
| 1990s | #1899 | 17 | 2 |
Geography
Where Shamaila is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Shamaila. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Shamaila ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #547 in 1984.
Across the UK
Shamaila in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#547 in 1984
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Shamaila
- 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
Shamaila: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shamaila in the UK right now?
In 2011, Shamaila was ranked #4764 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Shamaila most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 10 babies registered as Shamaila in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shamaila?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "beautiful" or "lovely lady".
How many people are called Shamaila in the UK?
A total of 48 babies have been registered as Shamaila across the 9 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Shamaila most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Shamaila ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #547 in 1984. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.