UK girl's name
Shelina
A feminine name of Arabic and Urdu origin, meaning "velvet" or "smooth".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2003. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shelina is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shelina popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2003 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4373, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 11 births.
This profile covers 38 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1996 to 2003. 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 27% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 38 living people in the UK are called Shelina. 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 2004 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shelina ranked #4373 for girls in England and Wales in 2003, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 11 girls were registered as Shelina.
- • About 38 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shelina as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4373
2003
Births in 2003
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
11 births
Estimated living
38
2026
Meaning
What does Shelina mean?
The name Shelina is believed to have its origins in the Persian language, where it is derived from the word "sheleen," meaning "soft" or "gentle." This name likely emerged in the region of modern-day Iran during the medieval period, around the 9th or 10th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shelina can be found in Persian literature from the 11th century. It is mentioned in the epic poem "Shahnameh" by the renowned poet Ferdowsi, where it is used as the name of a minor character.
In the 13th century, a notable figure named Shelina Banu Agha was a influential woman at the court of the Mongol ruler Hulagu Khan. She played a significant role in shaping cultural and intellectual life during that era.
During the 16th century, a Sufi mystic and poet named Shelina Begum gained recognition for her spiritual writings and poetry in the Persian language. Her works were widely circulated throughout the region and influenced subsequent generations of poets and mystics.
In the 19th century, Shelina Amin was a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights in Persia. She established several schools for girls and worked tirelessly to promote female education and empowerment.
Another notable figure with the name Shelina was Shelina Zayyat, an Egyptian writer and activist who lived in the early 20th century. She was a vocal critic of British colonial rule and played a significant role in the Egyptian nationalist movement.
Over the centuries, the name Shelina has maintained its connection to the Persian language and culture, although it has also been adopted by various other cultures and regions, particularly in the Middle East and Central Asia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shelina over time
The chart below shows babies named Shelina registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2003. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shelina, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2003, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shelina by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shelina 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3849 | 10 | 3 |
| 1990s | #2447 | 28 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Shelina
- 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
Shelina: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shelina in the UK right now?
In 2003, Shelina was ranked #4373 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shelina most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 11 babies registered as Shelina in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shelina?
A feminine name of Arabic and Urdu origin, meaning "velvet" or "smooth".
How many people are called Shelina in the UK?
A total of 38 babies have been registered as Shelina 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.