UK name, mostly girls
Shaya
A Hebrew name meaning "gift from God" or "present from God".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 147 boys.
Shaya is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Shaya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2346, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 17 births.
This profile covers 215 England and Wales registrations across 24 recorded years from 1999 to 2023. 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 65% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 214 living people in the UK are called Shaya. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shaya ranked #2346 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 11 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 17 girls were registered as Shaya.
- • Shaya is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 214 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shaya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 59.4% of Shaya registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2346
2023
Births in 2023
11
Latest year
Peak year
2010
17 births
Estimated living
214
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Shaya
In England and Wales birth records, Shaya has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 40.6% of registrations are for boys and 59.4% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Shaya registered for boys
- Ranked #2,443 in 2024
- 9 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2019 (18 births)
Shaya registered for girls
- Ranked #2,346 in 2023
- 11 girls registered in 2023
- Peak: 2010 (17 births)
Meaning
What does Shaya mean?
The name Shaya has its origins in the Sanskrit language and is derived from the word "shaya," which means "resting place" or "abode." This name was prevalent in ancient India and is believed to have been used as early as the 6th century BCE.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Shaya can be found in the Hindu scriptures, particularly in the sacred text of the Upanishads. It is mentioned in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad as the name of a sage who imparted spiritual wisdom to his disciples.
In the 3rd century BCE, there was a renowned Indian mathematician and astronomer named Shaya who made significant contributions to the field of astronomy. He is credited with developing a method for calculating the positions of celestial bodies and is considered one of the pioneers of Indian astronomy.
During the Gupta Empire, which ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent from the 4th to the 6th century CE, the name Shaya was commonly used among the ruling class and aristocracy. One notable figure from this period was Shaya, a minister and advisor to King Chandragupta II, who was known for his wisdom and diplomacy.
In the literary world, there was a famous Sanskrit poet and playwright named Shaya who lived during the 7th century CE. He is best known for his work "Shakuntalā," a celebrated play that has been translated into numerous languages and continues to be performed to this day.
Another prominent individual with the name Shaya was a 12th-century Indian philosopher and scholar who wrote extensively on the Advaita Vedanta school of Hinduism. His works, such as "Shaya-Bhashya," are considered pivotal texts in the study of Vedantic philosophy.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Shaya, showcasing its long-standing presence and significance in the Indian cultural and intellectual tradition.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shaya over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Shaya in England and Wales, from 1998 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 Shaya, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2023, compared with 17 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shaya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shaya 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 | #3854 | 26 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2426 | 116 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2685 | 70 | 9 |
| 1990s | #3900 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Shaya
- 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
Shaya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shaya in the UK right now?
In 2023, Shaya was ranked #2346 for girls in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.
When was Shaya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 17 babies registered as Shaya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shaya?
A Hebrew name meaning "gift from God" or "present from God".
How many people are called Shaya in the UK?
A total of 215 babies have been registered as Shaya across the 24 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.