NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Shanaye

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "to desire" or "longed for".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Shanaye is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shanaye popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5742, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 6 births.

This profile covers 61 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1996 to 2013. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 61 living people in the UK are called Shanaye. 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 2014 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Shanaye ranked #5742 for girls in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2002, when 6 girls were registered as Shanaye.
  • About 61 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shanaye as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5742

2013

Births in 2013

3

Latest year

Peak year

2002

6 births

Estimated living

61

2026

Meaning

What does Shanaye mean?

The name Shanaye is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, which is one of the oldest Indo-Aryan languages spoken in ancient India. The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "shani," which means "planet Saturn." The name may have been given to children born under the astrological influence of the planet Saturn.

In ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Vedas and Puranas, there are references to the planet Saturn and its significance in astrology and mythology. However, there are no specific mentions of the name Shanaye itself in these ancient texts.

The earliest recorded use of the name Shanaye is difficult to pinpoint precisely, as historical records from ancient times are often incomplete or lost. However, it is believed that the name was used in various parts of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in regions where Sanskrit was widely spoken or studied.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shanaye. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Shanaye Pandita, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet who lived in the 9th century CE in the region of present-day Kashmir. She was highly respected for her contributions to Sanskrit literature and language studies.

Another notable figure was Shanaye Devi, a Hindu mystic and saint who lived in the 16th century CE in the northern region of India. She was known for her profound spiritual teachings and her devotion to the divine.

In the 18th century, there was Shanaye Singh, a powerful ruler of the Maratha Empire in India. He was a skilled military leader and strategist who played a significant role in expanding the Maratha territories during his reign.

During the 19th century, Shanaye Naidu was a prominent Indian freedom fighter and poet. She was an influential figure in the Indian independence movement and her writings inspired many people to join the struggle against British colonial rule.

In more recent times, Shanaye Gupte was a celebrated Indian classical dancer and choreographer who lived from 1919 to 2003. She made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of traditional Indian dance forms.

While the name Shanaye may have its origins in ancient Sanskrit and Hindu culture, it has since been adopted and used in various parts of the world, transcending cultural and linguistic boundaries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shanaye over time

The chart below shows babies named Shanaye registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Shanaye, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2013, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Shanaye
02356199620042013

Decades

Shanaye by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shanaye 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 #4808 17 4
2000s #3852 36 8
1990s #3292 8 2

Related

Names similar to Shanaye

FAQ

Shanaye: questions and answers

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

In 2013, Shanaye was ranked #5742 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Shanaye most popular?

The peak year on record was 2002, with 6 babies registered as Shanaye in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shanaye?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "to desire" or "longed for".

How many people are called Shanaye in the UK?

A total of 61 babies have been registered as Shanaye across the 14 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.