NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Shamia

Feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "high" or "lofty".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2008. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Shamia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shamia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2008 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4524, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 5 births.

This profile covers 20 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2000 to 2008. 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 20 living people in the UK are called Shamia. 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 2009 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Shamia ranked #4524 for girls in England and Wales in 2008, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2000, when 5 girls were registered as Shamia.
  • About 20 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shamia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4524

2008

Births in 2008

4

Latest year

Peak year

2000

5 births

Estimated living

20

2026

Meaning

What does Shamia mean?

The name Shamia is believed to have originated from the Arabic language, with its roots tracing back to ancient times in the Middle Eastern region. The name is derived from the Arabic word "shams," which means sun, and it is often associated with radiance, warmth, and brilliance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shamia can be found in ancient Arabic poetry and literature, where it was used to describe the beauty and splendor of the sun. The name was also mentioned in various Islamic texts and manuscripts, highlighting its cultural and religious significance in the Arab world.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Shamia. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Shamia al-Qurayshi (born around 670 CE), a renowned Arab poet and scholar who lived during the Umayyad Caliphate. Her poems and writings were widely celebrated for their lyrical beauty and profound wisdom.

Another prominent figure was Shamia bint al-Hasan (776 CE - 846 CE), a renowned Arabic scholar and theologian from the Abbasid era. She was highly respected for her deep knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and her contributions to the intellectual discourse of her time.

In the 12th century, Shamia al-Andalusi (1135 CE - 1198 CE) was a celebrated Arabic poet and writer from the Andalusian region of Spain. Her works were widely admired for their elegance and depth, and she was considered a literary icon during the Golden Age of Islamic civilization in Spain.

During the Ottoman Empire, Shamia Efendi (1554 CE - 1623 CE) was a prominent Ottoman calligrapher and artist. Her calligraphic works were highly sought after and adorned the walls of mosques and palaces, showcasing her exceptional skill and artistry.

In more recent history, Shamia Mostafa (1924 CE - 2012 CE) was an influential Egyptian writer and feminist activist. She played a pivotal role in advocating for women's rights and empowerment in the Arab world, and her literary works explored themes of social justice and gender equality.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Shamia, each leaving their mark in various fields such as literature, scholarship, art, and activism.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shamia over time

The chart below shows babies named Shamia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2008. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Shamia, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2008, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Shamia
01345200020042008

Decades

Shamia by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shamia 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
2000s #3942 20 5

Related

Names similar to Shamia

FAQ

Shamia: questions and answers

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

In 2008, Shamia was ranked #4524 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Shamia most popular?

The peak year on record was 2000, with 5 babies registered as Shamia in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shamia?

Feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "high" or "lofty".

How many people are called Shamia in the UK?

A total of 20 babies have been registered as Shamia across the 5 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.