UK girl's name
Shannia
An Indian feminine name meaning "Peace".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2007. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shannia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shannia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2007 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5201, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 9 births.
This profile covers 26 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1998 to 2007. 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 26 living people in the UK are called Shannia. 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 2008 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shannia ranked #5201 for girls in England and Wales in 2007, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 9 girls were registered as Shannia.
- • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shannia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5201
2007
Births in 2007
3
Latest year
Peak year
1999
9 births
Estimated living
26
2026
Meaning
What does Shannia mean?
The given name Shannia is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language, which was the classical literary language of the Indian subcontinent and a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "shanti," which means "peace" or "tranquility."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shannia can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures, the Vedas, which date back to around 1500-500 BCE. In these texts, the name is often associated with principles of inner peace, harmony, and spiritual enlightenment.
The name Shannia gained popularity during the medieval period in the Indian subcontinent, particularly among followers of Hinduism and Buddhism. Several notable individuals bore this name during this time, including Shannia Devi, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 12th century and wrote extensively on spiritual themes.
In the 16th century, the name Shannia was also found in historical records from the Mughal Empire, which ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent during that period. One notable figure was Shannia Begum, a princess and patron of the arts who lived during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.
As the name spread beyond the Indian subcontinent, it was adopted in various forms in other cultures and languages. In the 19th century, Shannia Rodrigues was a prominent Cuban writer and activist who advocated for women's rights and social reform.
Another notable figure was Shannia Twain, a Canadian singer-songwriter born in 1965, who became one of the best-selling music artists of all time with hits like "Man! I Feel Like a Woman" and "You're Still the One."
While the name Shannia is not as common in some parts of the world today, it continues to be used, particularly in regions with cultural ties to the Indian subcontinent, and its association with peace and tranquility remains a enduring part of its meaning and significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shannia over time
The chart below shows babies named Shannia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2007. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shannia, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2007, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shannia by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shannia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4230 | 14 | 4 |
| 1990s | #2827 | 12 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Shannia
- 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
Shannia: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shannia in the UK right now?
In 2007, Shannia was ranked #5201 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shannia most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 9 babies registered as Shannia in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shannia?
An Indian feminine name meaning "Peace".
How many people are called Shannia in the UK?
A total of 26 babies have been registered as Shannia across the 6 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.