UK girl's name
Shanayah
An Arabic name meaning "beauty and excellence".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shanayah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shanayah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5765, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 4 births.
This profile covers 17 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2009 to 2017. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 17 living people in the UK are called Shanayah. 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 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shanayah ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 4 girls were registered as Shanayah.
- • About 17 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shanayah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5765
2017
Births in 2017
3
Latest year
Peak year
2009
4 births
Estimated living
17
2026
Meaning
What does Shanayah mean?
The name Shanayah is a relatively modern creation, believed to have originated in the United States in the late 20th century. It does not appear to have roots in any specific language or cultural tradition, but rather seems to have been constructed as a unique and distinctive name.
While the precise etymology of Shanayah is unclear, it is speculated that the name may have been inspired by the Hebrew name Shana, which means "beautiful" or "brilliant." The addition of the suffix "-yah" could be a nod to the common ending in Hebrew names like Mariah or Elijah.
As a relatively new name, there are no known historical references or mentions in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, in recent decades, the name has gained some popularity, particularly in the United States.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shanayah was in 1974, when it was given to a baby girl born in California. Since then, several notable individuals have borne the name, though it remains relatively uncommon.
Shanayah Barnes, born in 1988, is an American basketball player who played professionally in the WNBA for teams like the Connecticut Sun and the Atlanta Dream. She was also a member of the Jamaican national basketball team.
Shanayah Sanford, born in 1999, is an American track and field athlete specializing in sprinting events. She has won multiple NCAA championships while competing for the University of Southern California.
Shanayah Hicks, born in 1994, is a Canadian singer and songwriter who has released several singles and albums in the R&B and pop genres.
Shanayah Daniels, born in 1987, is an American actress and model who has appeared in various television shows and films, including roles in "The Game" and "Raising Izzie."
Shanayah Roberts, born in 1992, is a British entrepreneur and fashion influencer known for her popular lifestyle blog and social media presence.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shanayah over time
The chart below shows babies named Shanayah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shanayah, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shanayah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shanayah 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 | #5528 | 13 | 4 |
| 2000s | #4564 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Shanayah
- 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
Shanayah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shanayah in the UK right now?
In 2017, Shanayah was ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shanayah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 4 babies registered as Shanayah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shanayah?
An Arabic name meaning "beauty and excellence".
How many people are called Shanayah in the UK?
A total of 17 babies have been registered as Shanayah 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.