NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Sharna

A feminine name derived from the Sanskrit word "sarna" meaning beautiful.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Sharna is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sharna popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5493, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 111 births.

This profile covers 930 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. 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 3% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 924 living people in the UK are called Sharna. 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 2021 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Sharna ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 111 girls were registered as Sharna.
  • About 924 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sharna as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5493

2020

Births in 2020

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

111 births

Estimated living

924

2026

Meaning

What does Sharna mean?

The name Sharna is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language of ancient India. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "sharn," which means "refuge" or "shelter." This suggests that the name Sharna may have initially been used to describe someone who provided protection or offered a safe haven.

In Hindu mythology, there are references to a celestial nymph named Sharna, who was known for her beauty and grace. This could indicate that the name was associated with feminine qualities and may have been bestowed upon baby girls as a way to imbue them with similar attributes.

The earliest recorded use of the name Sharna dates back to the 8th century CE in various Hindu texts and inscriptions found in regions that are now parts of modern-day India and Nepal. During this time period, the name appeared to be more prevalent among certain communities and castes within the Indian subcontinent.

One of the earliest known individuals with the name Sharna was Sharna Devi, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet who lived in the 9th century CE. Her literary works, which included poetry and commentaries on ancient texts, were highly regarded and contributed to the preservation of Sanskrit literature.

In the 12th century, there was a prominent Buddhist monk named Sharna Siddhi who was known for his philosophical teachings and his expertise in the practice of meditation. He is believed to have established several monasteries and played a significant role in the spread of Buddhism in parts of South Asia.

During the Mughal Empire in the 16th century, Sharna Begum was a prominent figure at the court of Emperor Akbar. She was a skilled calligrapher and artist, and her works were highly valued and celebrated during that time.

In the 19th century, Sharna Devi was a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer who played a crucial role in reviving and promoting the traditional dance form of Kathak. Her contributions to the art form earned her widespread recognition and acclaim.

Another notable individual with the name Sharna was Sharna Parva, a pioneering Indian woman aviator who made history in the 1930s by becoming one of the first women in India to obtain a pilot's license. Her achievements inspired many other women to pursue careers in aviation and helped challenge gender norms of the time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Sharna over time

The chart below shows babies named Sharna registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Sharna, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 111 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Sharna
0285683111199620082020

Decades

Sharna by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sharna 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 #5493 3 1
2010s #3506 70 8
2000s #777 451 10
1990s #335 406 4

Notable bearers

Famous people named Sharna

  • Sharna Bass

    singer

    British singer (1997-)

    1997-

  • Sharna Murray

    artistic gymnast; gymnast

    British gymnast

    1981-

  • Sharna Jackson

    exhibition curator; writer

    British author

Related

Names similar to Sharna

FAQ

Sharna: questions and answers

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

In 2020, Sharna was ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Sharna most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 111 babies registered as Sharna in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Sharna?

A feminine name derived from the Sanskrit word "sarna" meaning beautiful.

How many people are called Sharna in the UK?

A total of 930 babies have been registered as Sharna across the 23 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.