NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Shanaya

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "peace" or "tranquility".

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.

Shanaya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shanaya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #696, with 54 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 98 births.

This profile covers 1,095 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 55% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,098 living people in the UK are called Shanaya. 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

  • Shanaya ranked #696 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 54 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2017, when 98 girls were registered as Shanaya.
  • Shanaya ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #630 in 2023.
  • About 1,098 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shanaya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#696

2024

Births in 2024

54

Latest year

Peak year

2017

98 births

Estimated living

1,098

2026

Meaning

What does Shanaya mean?

The name Shanaya is of Sanskrit origin and is derived from the combination of two words: "shanti" meaning peace, and "aya" meaning to obtain or arrive. It is a feminine name that holds significance in the Indian culture, particularly in Hinduism.

Shanaya is believed to have originated in ancient India during the Vedic period, which spans from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE. The name is closely associated with the concept of achieving inner peace and tranquility, which is highly valued in Hindu philosophy and spirituality.

Historically, the name can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, such as the Vedas and the Upanishads. It is mentioned in various contexts related to spiritual enlightenment and the pursuit of peace and harmony within oneself and with the divine.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shanaya can be found in the epic Sanskrit poem, the Mahabharata, which dates back to around the 8th century BCE. In this ancient text, Shanaya is mentioned as the name of a celestial nymph or apsara, known for her beauty and grace.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Shanaya. One such person was Shanaya Kashyap, a renowned Indian philosopher and spiritual teacher who lived in the 7th century CE. She was known for her profound wisdom and teachings on the path to self-realization.

Another historical figure was Shanaya Devi, a 12th-century Indian mystic and poet. Her literary works, particularly her poetry, explored themes of devotion, love, and the divine connection between the human soul and the cosmic consciousness.

In the 16th century, Shanaya Kumari was a revered Hindu saint and scholar from the Rajput community in India. She was renowned for her deep knowledge of the sacred texts and her dedication to spiritual practices.

During the 18th century, Shanaya Bai was a celebrated Indian classical dancer and courtesan from the Lucknow region. She was highly skilled in the art of Kathak dance and contributed to the preservation and promotion of this ancient dance form.

One of the more recent historical figures with the name Shanaya was Shanaya Tiwari, an Indian freedom fighter and social activist who lived in the early 20th century. She played a significant role in the Indian independence movement and fought for women's rights and education.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shanaya over time

The chart below shows babies named Shanaya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Shanaya, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 54 births in 2024, compared with 98 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Shanaya
025497498199620102024

Decades

Shanaya by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shanaya 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 #618 319 5
2010s #759 626 10
2000s #1691 131 10
1990s #2588 19 3

Geography

Where Shanaya is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Shanaya. 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.

Shanaya ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #630 in 2023.

Scotland
4

Across the UK

Shanaya in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#630 in 2023

2 years of NRS records, 8 total registered

Related

Names similar to Shanaya

FAQ

Shanaya: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Shanaya was ranked #696 for girls in England and Wales, with 54 births registered.

When was Shanaya most popular?

The peak year on record was 2017, with 98 babies registered as Shanaya in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shanaya?

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "peace" or "tranquility".

How many people are called Shanaya in the UK?

A total of 1,095 babies have been registered as Shanaya across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 8 more in Scotland.

Where is Shanaya most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Shanaya ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #630 in 2023. 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.