NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Sharia

Meaning "straight path" or "way to the watering place".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2003. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Sharia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sharia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2003 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4373, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 3 births.

This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2001 to 2003. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Sharia. 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 2004 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Sharia ranked #4373 for girls in England and Wales in 2003, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2001, when 3 girls were registered as Sharia.
  • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sharia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4373

2003

Births in 2003

3

Latest year

Peak year

2001

3 births

Estimated living

9

2026

Meaning

What does Sharia mean?

The name Sharia has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, originating from the Middle East region during the early Islamic era. It is derived from the Arabic word "shar'iah," which means "the path" or "the way." This term is closely associated with Islamic religious law and the moral code of conduct for Muslims.

In Islamic tradition, Sharia refers to the divine guidance and principles that govern various aspects of life, including religious rituals, personal conduct, and social interactions. The term is mentioned numerous times in the Quran, the central religious text of Islam, and is considered a crucial aspect of the Islamic faith.

The earliest recorded use of the name Sharia can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and the establishment of the Islamic caliphate. It is believed that some of the early followers of Islam may have adopted the name Sharia as a way to signify their adherence to the religious principles and laws.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Sharia, though its usage as a personal name has been relatively uncommon. One of the earliest known individuals with this name was Sharia al-Qurashi, a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist who lived in the 8th century CE in Medina, the holy city of Islam.

Another notable figure was Sharia al-Daylami, a 10th-century Persian poet and mystic who wrote extensively on Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam. Her works have had a lasting influence on Islamic literature and spirituality.

In the 12th century, there was Sharia al-Naysaburi, a renowned Islamic scholar and hadith expert from the city of Nishapur (present-day Iran). He authored several notable works on hadith (prophetic traditions) and played a significant role in preserving and transmitting Islamic knowledge.

During the 13th century, Sharia al-Andalusi was a prominent Muslim scholar and traveler from Spain (known as Al-Andalus during the Islamic rule). He wrote extensively on various subjects, including geography, astronomy, and Islamic jurisprudence.

In the 15th century, Sharia al-Shirazi was a celebrated Persian mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of trigonometry and the study of planetary movements.

While the name Sharia has deep historical and religious significance in the Islamic tradition, its usage as a personal name has remained relatively limited compared to other Arabic names. However, it continues to hold a special place in Islamic culture and serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to the divine principles and moral code outlined in the Sharia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Sharia over time

The chart below shows babies named Sharia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2003. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Sharia, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2003, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Sharia
01223200120022003

Decades

Sharia by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sharia 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 #4169 9 3

Related

Names similar to Sharia

FAQ

Sharia: questions and answers

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

In 2003, Sharia was ranked #4373 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Sharia most popular?

The peak year on record was 2001, with 3 babies registered as Sharia in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Sharia?

Meaning "straight path" or "way to the watering place".

How many people are called Sharia in the UK?

A total of 9 babies have been registered as Sharia across the 3 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.