NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Shamara

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "twilight".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Shamara is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shamara popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5707, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 7 births.

This profile covers 39 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 1996 to 2010. 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 39 living people in the UK are called Shamara. 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 2011 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Shamara ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales in 2010, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2004, when 7 girls were registered as Shamara.
  • About 39 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shamara as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5707

2010

Births in 2010

3

Latest year

Peak year

2004

7 births

Estimated living

39

2026

Meaning

What does Shamara mean?

The name Shamara is of Arabic origin, derived from the Arabic word "shamar" which means "to guard" or "to protect." It is believed to have originated in the Middle East during the Islamic Golden Age, a period of cultural and scientific flourishing in the region between the 8th and 13th centuries.

The earliest recorded use of the name Shamara can be traced back to the 10th century, when it was mentioned in various Arabic literary works and historical records. One notable mention is in the book "Kitab al-Aghani" (The Book of Songs), a comprehensive collection of Arabic poetry and biographies of poets compiled by Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani in the late 10th century.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shamara. One of the earliest recorded was Shamara al-Hanafi, a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist who lived in the 11th century. She was known for her expertise in Hanafi jurisprudence and her contributions to the field of Islamic law.

Another prominent figure was Shamara al-Dimashqi, a 12th-century Arabic poet and writer from Damascus. She was renowned for her eloquent and powerful poetry, which often explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition.

In the 13th century, Shamara al-Qudsi was a celebrated Sufi mystic and spiritual teacher. She was known for her profound insights into the nature of the divine and her ability to guide others on the path of spiritual enlightenment.

During the 14th century, Shamara al-Andalusi was a respected physician and scholar from the Iberian Peninsula. She made significant contributions to the field of medicine and was widely respected for her knowledge and expertise.

In the 16th century, Shamara al-Misri was a renowned calligrapher and artist from Egypt. Her intricate and beautiful calligraphic works were highly sought after and adorned many mosques and palaces throughout the region.

While the name Shamara has been present throughout history, it has remained relatively uncommon, particularly in more modern times. However, its rich cultural heritage and symbolic meaning as a protector and guardian have endured, making it a unique and meaningful name choice for parents seeking to connect their child with a rich historical and cultural tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shamara over time

The chart below shows babies named Shamara registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Shamara, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2010, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Shamara
02457199620032010

Decades

Shamara by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shamara 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 #5707 3 1
2000s #3683 27 6
1990s #3099 9 2

Related

Names similar to Shamara

FAQ

Shamara: questions and answers

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

In 2010, Shamara was ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Shamara most popular?

The peak year on record was 2004, with 7 babies registered as Shamara in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shamara?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "twilight".

How many people are called Shamara in the UK?

A total of 39 babies have been registered as Shamara across the 9 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.