NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Shanice

A feminine name of African origin meaning "God is gracious".

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.

Shanice is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shanice popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 200 births.

This profile covers 1,650 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 4% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,824 living people in the UK are called Shanice. 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

  • Shanice ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 200 girls were registered as Shanice.
  • Shanice ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #444 in 2011.
  • About 1,824 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shanice as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3318

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

1996

200 births

Estimated living

1,824

2026

Meaning

What does Shanice mean?

The name Shanice has its origins in the French language, likely emerging during the late Middle Ages or Renaissance period. It is a feminine name derived from the French word "chanter," which means "to sing." The name may have initially been used as a descriptive surname or nickname for women with exceptional singing voices or those associated with the musical arts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shanice can be found in historical documents from the 16th century in France. However, it remained relatively uncommon until more recent times. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name appeared sporadically in French records, often associated with families of artistic or musical backgrounds.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shanice. One of the earliest was Shanice de Montpellier, a French singer and composer who lived in the late 16th century. Her compositions were performed at the court of King Henry IV of France.

Another notable figure was Shanice Duval, a French opera singer who gained prominence in the early 19th century. She performed in various opera houses across Europe and was renowned for her powerful and expressive soprano voice.

In the 20th century, the name Shanice gained popularity in the United States, particularly among African American communities. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Shanice Wilson, an American R&B singer and songwriter born in 1973. She achieved success with her debut album "Discovery" in 1987 and had several hit singles, including "I Love Your Smile" and "Silent Prayer."

Another notable Shanice was Shanice Van Buren, an American athlete and Olympic gold medalist in track and field. Born in 1978, she won gold in the 4x400 meter relay at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Shanice Jonkers, a Dutch actress and model born in 1985, has also gained recognition for her roles in various films and television shows, both in the Netherlands and internationally.

While the name Shanice has its roots in France, it has since been embraced and popularized in various cultures and communities around the world. Its connection to music and artistic expression has endured throughout its history, making it a distinctive and melodious choice for parents.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shanice over time

The chart below shows babies named Shanice 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 Shanice, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 200 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Shanice
050100150200199620102024

Decades

Shanice by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shanice 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 #3159 29 4
2010s #1943 191 10
2000s #509 760 10
1990s #242 670 4

Geography

Where Shanice is most common

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

Shanice ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #444 in 2011.

Scotland
5
Northern Ireland
3

Across the UK

Shanice in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#603 in 2014

19 years of NRS records, 133 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#444 in 2011

12 years of NISRA records, 53 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Shanice

  • Shanice Lobb

    competitive diver

    British diver

    1998-

  • Shanice Norton

    basketball player

    English basketball player (born 1997)

    1997-

  • Shanice Williams

    beauty pageant contestant

    Turks and Caicos model

    1994-

Related

Names similar to Shanice

FAQ

Shanice: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Shanice was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Shanice most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 200 babies registered as Shanice in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shanice?

A feminine name of African origin meaning "God is gracious".

How many people are called Shanice in the UK?

A total of 1,650 babies have been registered as Shanice across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 133 more in Scotland and 53 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Shanice most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Shanice ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #444 in 2011. 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.