NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Shaymaa

A feminine Arabic name meaning "elevated", "sublime", or "lofty".

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.

Shaymaa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shaymaa 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 2008, with 8 births.

This profile covers 42 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 1997 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 42 living people in the UK are called Shaymaa. 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

  • Shaymaa ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2008, when 8 girls were registered as Shaymaa.
  • About 42 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shaymaa 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

2008

8 births

Estimated living

42

2026

Meaning

What does Shaymaa mean?

The name Shaymaa has its origins in the Arabic language and Islamic culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "shama'a," which means "candle" or "light." The name is believed to have been in use since the early days of Islam, which dates back to the 7th century CE.

In Arabic literature and poetry, the name Shaymaa is often associated with beauty, grace, and radiance. It is a popular name among Muslims and is found throughout the Arab world, particularly in countries such as Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Shaymaa can be found in the works of renowned Arabic poets and scholars from the medieval period. Al-Mutanabbi, a famous 10th-century Arab poet, used the name in his poetry to describe a beautiful and radiant woman.

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Shaymaa. One of the most famous was Shaymaa Ismail (1924-2008), an Egyptian actress and singer who was a prominent figure in the golden age of Egyptian cinema. Another notable Shaymaa was Shaymaa Al-Qadhi (born 1987), a Yemeni human rights activist and journalist who has been a vocal advocate for women's rights and democracy in Yemen.

In the realm of literature, Shaymaa Fouad (born 1978) is an acclaimed Egyptian writer and poet whose works explore themes of identity, love, and societal issues. Shaymaa Khalil (born 1971) is an Egyptian historian and author who has written extensively on the history and culture of the Arab world.

Shaymaa Bakir (born 1985) is an Iraqi artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited internationally. Her sculptures often explore themes of identity, displacement, and the human experience.

While these are just a few examples, the name Shaymaa has been borne by many notable women throughout history, reflecting its deep roots in Arabic and Islamic culture and its association with beauty, light, and grace.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shaymaa over time

The chart below shows babies named Shaymaa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Shaymaa, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 8 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Shaymaa
02468199720082020

Decades

Shaymaa by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shaymaa 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 #4467 9 2
2000s #4166 27 6
1990s #3824 3 1

Related

Names similar to Shaymaa

FAQ

Shaymaa: questions and answers

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

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

When was Shaymaa most popular?

The peak year on record was 2008, with 8 babies registered as Shaymaa in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shaymaa?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "elevated", "sublime", or "lofty".

How many people are called Shaymaa in the UK?

A total of 42 babies have been registered as Shaymaa across the 10 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.