NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Shammah

Of Hebrew origin, meaning "desolation", "desert", or "astonishment".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 7 girls.

Shammah is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Shammah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 3 births.

This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2009 to 2021. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 15 living people in the UK are called Shammah. 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 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Shammah ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2009, when 3 boys were registered as Shammah.
  • Shammah is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shammah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 68.2% of Shammah registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4789

2021

Births in 2021

3

Latest year

Peak year

2009

3 births

Estimated living

15

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Shammah

In England and Wales birth records, Shammah has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 68.2% of registrations are for boys and 31.8% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

68% boys
32% girls
Boys15 (68.2%)Girls7 (31.8%)

Shammah registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,789 in 2021
  • 3 boys registered in 2021
  • Peak: 2009 (3 births)

Shammah registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,730 in 2015
  • 3 girls registered in 2015
  • Peak: 2009 (4 births)

Meaning

What does Shammah mean?

The name Shammah has its roots in the Hebrew language and culture. It is derived from the Hebrew word "shammah," which means "desolate" or "wasteland." The name dates back to ancient times and can be found in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shammah appears in the Book of Samuel, where it is mentioned as the name of one of King David's mighty warriors. Shammah the Hararite is described as a valiant soldier who stood his ground against the Philistines and defended a field of lentils, slaying the enemy single-handedly.

In addition to the biblical reference, the name Shammah has been carried by several other notable individuals throughout history. One such individual was Shammah, son of Anath, a Jew who lived in the 2nd century CE. He was a renowned scholar and is mentioned in the Talmud, the central text of Rabbinic Judaism.

Another Shammah of historical significance was Shammah ben David, a medieval Jewish scholar who lived in the 12th century CE. He was a prominent Talmudist and is known for his contributions to the study of Jewish law and tradition.

Moving forward in time, Shammah Bunford was an American Revolutionary War soldier who fought in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War in the late 18th century. He was born in 1757 and is remembered for his bravery and service to the cause of American independence.

In more recent history, Shammah Hirschfeld was a Jewish artist and sculptor who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in 1853 in Galicia, he is known for his sculptures and works of art inspired by Jewish themes and traditions.

While the name Shammah may not be as common today, its historical significance and connections to Hebrew culture and biblical figures have given it a lasting legacy. The name has been carried by warriors, scholars, and artists throughout the centuries, each leaving their mark on the world in their own way.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shammah over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Shammah in England and Wales, from 2009 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Shammah, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
02457200920152021

Decades

Shammah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shammah 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 #4789 3 1
2010s #4715 9 3
2000s #4527 3 1

Related

Names similar to Shammah

FAQ

Shammah: questions and answers

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

In 2021, Shammah was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Shammah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2009, with 3 babies registered as Shammah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shammah?

Of Hebrew origin, meaning "desolation", "desert", or "astonishment".

How many people are called Shammah in the UK?

A total of 15 babies have been registered as Shammah 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.