UK girl's name
Shanza
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "branch of a tree".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shanza is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shanza popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4645, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 6 births.
This profile covers 55 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 55 living people in the UK are called Shanza. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shanza ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 6 girls were registered as Shanza.
- • About 55 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shanza as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4645
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
2003
6 births
Estimated living
55
2026
Meaning
What does Shanza mean?
The name Shanza is believed to have originated from the Arabic language and culture. It is thought to be derived from the Arabic word "shanz," which means "beautiful" or "attractive." The name Shanza has been in use for centuries, dating back to the medieval period in the Middle East and North Africa.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shanza can be found in the 13th century, when it was mentioned in a collection of Arabic poetry. In these poems, the name Shanza was often used as a metaphor for a beautiful and desirable woman.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shanza. One of the earliest was Shanza al-Isfahani (1125-1201), a renowned Arabic poet and calligrapher who lived during the Abbasid Caliphate. Her works were widely celebrated for their elegance and depth of emotion.
Another notable Shanza was Shanza bint Uthman (1290-1368), a Moroccan scholar and jurist who made significant contributions to the field of Islamic law. She was highly respected for her extensive knowledge and her ability to navigate complex legal issues.
In the 16th century, there was Shanza al-Andalusi (1510-1578), a Spanish-Arabic musician and composer. She was renowned for her skill in playing the oud, a traditional Middle Eastern lute, and her compositions were widely praised for their beauty and innovation.
Fast-forwarding to the 19th century, we find Shanza al-Kabir (1820-1892), an Egyptian feminist and advocate for women's rights. She was a pioneering figure who fought tirelessly for the education and empowerment of women in her country.
Finally, in the 20th century, there was Shanza al-Khatib (1915-2001), a Syrian novelist and short story writer. Her works explored themes of love, loss, and the struggles of everyday life, earning her widespread acclaim and numerous literary awards.
While the name Shanza has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, it has since spread to other parts of the world, with individuals from various backgrounds adopting and embracing this beautiful name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shanza over time
The chart below shows babies named Shanza registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shanza, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shanza by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shanza 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 | #4645 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5515 | 13 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3982 | 31 | 8 |
| 1990s | #3469 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Shanza
- 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
Shanza: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shanza in the UK right now?
In 2022, Shanza was ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Shanza most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 6 babies registered as Shanza in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shanza?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "branch of a tree".
How many people are called Shanza in the UK?
A total of 55 babies have been registered as Shanza 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.