UK girl's name
Shayley
From an Old English name meaning "one who came from the meadow town".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shayley is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shayley popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5876, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 6 births.
This profile covers 26 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2000 to 2012. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 26 living people in the UK are called Shayley. 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 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shayley ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 6 girls were registered as Shayley.
- • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shayley as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5876
2012
Births in 2012
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
6 births
Estimated living
26
2026
Meaning
What does Shayley mean?
The name Shayley originates from the Old English language and can be traced back to the 9th century. It is a variation of the name Sheila, which is derived from the Gaelic word "sìle," meaning a descendant or a ray of light. The name Shayley was likely influenced by the Anglo-Saxon culture and language during the period when the Germanic tribes settled in Britain.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Shayley can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by King William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Shaileia," which was likely a variant spelling used at that time.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Shayley. In the 12th century, Shayley de Montfort was a prominent English noblewoman and the wife of Simon de Montfort, a leader of the baronial rebellion against King Henry III. She played a crucial role in supporting her husband's cause during the Second Barons' War.
Another notable figure was Shayley Whitehead, an English philosopher and mathematician who lived from 1616 to 1695. She is remembered for her contributions to the development of early modern natural philosophy and her work on the principles of motion.
In the 18th century, Shayley Cunningham (1719-1804) was a renowned Scottish botanist and naturalist. She is credited with discovering and cataloging numerous plant species native to the Scottish Highlands.
Moving into the 19th century, Shayley Nightingale (1820-1910) was a British social reformer and pioneer of modern nursing. Her efforts to improve healthcare and nursing education have had a lasting impact on the nursing profession.
In the 20th century, Shayley Atwood (1901-1979) was an American aviator and one of the first women to receive a commercial pilot's license. She made significant contributions to the advancement of women in aviation during her career.
These examples demonstrate the rich history and cultural significance of the name Shayley, spanning various fields and eras. While its origins can be traced back to the Old English period, the name has endured and been carried by remarkable individuals throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shayley over time
The chart below shows babies named Shayley registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shayley, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2012, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shayley by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shayley 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5876 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4075 | 23 | 6 |
Related
Names similar to Shayley
- 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
Shayley: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shayley in the UK right now?
In 2012, Shayley was ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shayley most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 6 babies registered as Shayley in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shayley?
From an Old English name meaning "one who came from the meadow town".
How many people are called Shayley in the UK?
A total of 26 babies have been registered as Shayley across the 7 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.