NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Shaquille

A masculine Arabic name meaning "handsome and excellent storyteller".

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.

Shaquille is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Shaquille popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2921, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 76 births.

This profile covers 416 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 9% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 412 living people in the UK are called Shaquille. 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

  • Shaquille ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 76 boys were registered as Shaquille.
  • About 412 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shaquille as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2921

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

1996

76 births

Estimated living

412

2026

Meaning

What does Shaquille mean?

The given name Shaquille traces its origins to the Arabic language and Islamic culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "Shaker," which means "grateful" or "thankful." This name gained prominence during the medieval period and was particularly popular in regions with significant Arab and Muslim influence.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Shaquille can be found in historical texts from the 8th century, where it was mentioned as the name of a renowned Islamic scholar and theologian. This scholar, known as Shaquille ibn Khalid, was widely respected for his contributions to the study of Islamic jurisprudence and his expertise in the interpretation of the Qur'an.

Throughout the centuries, the name Shaquille has been associated with several notable figures in various fields. One such individual was Shaquille al-Andalusi, a renowned mathematician and astronomer from the 10th century who made significant contributions to the advancement of scientific knowledge during the Islamic Golden Age.

Another historical figure bearing the name Shaquille was a renowned poet and author from the 12th century, known as Shaquille al-Gharnati. His poetic works were widely celebrated and served as an influential literary source during the medieval period.

In the realm of politics and leadership, Shaquille ibn Abi Amir, also known as Almanzor, was a prominent military commander and de facto ruler of the Caliphate of Cordoba in the late 10th century. His military prowess and strategic leadership played a crucial role in the expansion and consolidation of the Caliphate's territories.

Fast-forwarding to more recent times, Shaquille O'Neal, the legendary basketball player and athlete, has undoubtedly been one of the most famous bearers of this name. Born in 1972, O'Neal's athletic achievements and charismatic personality have made him a household name worldwide, contributing to the increased popularity and recognition of the name Shaquille.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shaquille over time

The chart below shows babies named Shaquille 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 Shaquille, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 76 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Shaquille
019385776199620102024

Decades

Shaquille by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shaquille 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 #3717 19 4
2010s #3283 52 9
2000s #1402 141 10
1990s #444 204 4

Notable bearers

Famous people named Shaquille

  • Shaquille Wynter-Coles

    association football player

    British association football player

    2000-

  • Shaquille Walters

    basketball player

    college basketball player (2018–2020) Santa Clara; Northeastern

    1997-

  • Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick

    association football player

    1995-

  • Shaquille McDonald

    association football player

    English association football player

    1995-

  • Shaquille Ali-Yebuah

    actor

    British actor

    1995-

  • Shaquille Lewis

    basketball player

    British basketball player

    1993-

  • Shaquille Bean

    association football player

    Bermudian footballer

    1993-

  • Shaquille Trott

    association football player

    Bermudian footballer

    1993-

Related

Names similar to Shaquille

FAQ

Shaquille: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Shaquille was ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Shaquille most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 76 babies registered as Shaquille in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shaquille?

A masculine Arabic name meaning "handsome and excellent storyteller".

How many people are called Shaquille in the UK?

A total of 416 babies have been registered as Shaquille across the 27 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.