UK girl's name
Sheba
Of Semitic origin, meaning "oath" or "seven".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sheba is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sheba popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4012, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 5 births.
This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2000 to 2010. 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.
Sheba is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 11 living people in the UK are called Sheba. 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 2011 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sheba ranked #4012 for girls in England and Wales in 2010, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 5 girls were registered as Sheba.
- • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sheba as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4012
2010
Births in 2010
5
Latest year
Peak year
2010
5 births
Estimated living
11
2026
Meaning
What does Sheba mean?
The name Sheba has its origins in the ancient Semitic languages of the Middle East. It is derived from the Hebrew word "sheva," which means "seven" or "oath." The name is closely associated with the biblical figure known as the Queen of Sheba, who is mentioned in various religious texts, including the Hebrew Bible, the Qur'an, and the Ethiopian Kebra Nagast.
Sheba was also the name of an ancient kingdom located in the southern Arabian Peninsula, which was renowned for its wealth and prosperity. The kingdom of Sheba is believed to have existed from around the 8th century BCE to the 7th century CE, and it played a significant role in the trade of spices, incense, and other valuable goods along the ancient trade routes.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Sheba can be found in the biblical book of 1 Kings, where it is said that the Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon in Jerusalem. This account, which is also mentioned in the Qur'an, has led to many legends and stories surrounding the Queen of Sheba and her legendary wealth and wisdom.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Sheba. One of the most famous was Sheba Dolly, an African American dancer and entertainer who was born in 1902 and performed in various vaudeville shows and nightclubs during the Harlem Renaissance era.
Another notable figure was Sheba Chhachhi, an Indian artist and activist who was born in 1958 and is known for her work exploring themes of gender, identity, and social justice.
Sheba Shaahama was a Yemeni poet and writer who lived in the 18th century and was renowned for her poetry and contributions to Arabic literature.
In the field of music, Sheba Sahlemariam is an Ethiopian-American singer and songwriter who has released several albums and is known for her unique blend of traditional Ethiopian sounds with modern genres.
Sheba Crofter was a Canadian author and activist who lived from 1857 to 1952 and was a prominent figure in the women's suffrage movement in Canada.
While the name Sheba has its roots in ancient history and religious texts, it has continued to be used over the centuries, with various individuals bearing this name and leaving their mark on various fields and cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sheba over time
The chart below shows babies named Sheba registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sheba, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2010, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sheba by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sheba 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 | #4012 | 5 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4355 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Sheba
- 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
Sheba: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sheba in the UK right now?
In 2010, Sheba was ranked #4012 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Sheba most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 5 babies registered as Sheba in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sheba?
Of Semitic origin, meaning "oath" or "seven".
How many people are called Sheba in the UK?
A total of 11 babies have been registered as Sheba 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.