NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Shanya

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "praiseworthy".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Shanya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shanya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5666, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 10 births.

This profile covers 79 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 2000 to 2018. 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 79 living people in the UK are called Shanya. 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 2019 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Shanya ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2012, when 10 girls were registered as Shanya.
  • About 79 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shanya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5666

2018

Births in 2018

3

Latest year

Peak year

2012

10 births

Estimated living

79

2026

Meaning

What does Shanya mean?

The name Shanya finds its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is one of the oldest languages in the world and the primary sacred language of Hinduism. It is believed to have emerged around the 2nd century BCE in ancient India. The name Shanya is derived from the Sanskrit word "Shani," which refers to the planet Saturn in Hindu astrology and mythology.

In Hindu mythology, Shani is considered the lord of karma and is associated with obstacles, hardships, and lessons in life. The name Shanya is often given to children in the hope that they will possess the strength and resilience to overcome life's challenges, much like the planet Saturn's influence in astrological charts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shanya can be found in the ancient Hindu text, the Mahabharata. In this epic, there is a character named Shanya, who was a skilled archer and warrior. However, beyond this literary reference, there is limited historical documentation about the use of this name in ancient times.

Throughout history, the name Shanya has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the most famous was Shanya Alamri, a 9th-century Arabian philosopher and scholar who made significant contributions to the fields of metaphysics and logic. Another notable figure was Shanya Devi, a 16th-century Indian mystic and poet who wrote extensively about spiritual enlightenment and the divine.

In more recent times, Shanya Krishnan (born 1983) is an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who has received numerous accolades for her performances and contributions to the art form. Shanya Kapoor (born 1995) is a contemporary Indian actress who has appeared in several Bollywood films and television shows.

Additionally, Shanya Ghosh (1932-2018) was a pioneering Indian artist who was known for her vibrant and expressive paintings, often depicting the lives of women and their struggles. Her works have been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shanya over time

The chart below shows babies named Shanya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Shanya, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2018, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Shanya
035810200020092018

Decades

Shanya by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shanya 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 #4436 35 7
2000s #3363 44 8

Related

Names similar to Shanya

FAQ

Shanya: questions and answers

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

In 2018, Shanya was ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Shanya most popular?

The peak year on record was 2012, with 10 babies registered as Shanya in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shanya?

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "praiseworthy".

How many people are called Shanya in the UK?

A total of 79 babies have been registered as Shanya across the 15 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.