UK girl's name
Shenai
A feminine name of Persian origin meaning "beautiful sound".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shenai is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shenai popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5765, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 16 births.
This profile covers 53 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 1998 to 2017. 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 19% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 53 living people in the UK are called Shenai. 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 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shenai ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 16 girls were registered as Shenai.
- • About 53 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shenai as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5765
2017
Births in 2017
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
16 births
Estimated living
53
2026
Meaning
What does Shenai mean?
The name Shenai has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is one of the oldest languages in the world, dating back to around 1500 BCE. The name is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "shena," which means "army" or "military." This suggests that the name may have been used for individuals who were part of an army or had a connection to the military in ancient times.
In Hindu mythology, there are references to a character named Shenai, who was a warrior and commander in the epic Mahabharata. This epic is one of the most important works of ancient Indian literature, composed around the 4th century BCE. The appearance of the name Shenai in this text suggests that it was in use during that time period.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Shenai was Shenai Khan, a prominent military commander who lived in the 13th century CE. He served under the Delhi Sultanate, which was a Muslim empire that ruled a significant portion of the Indian subcontinent during that time.
Another notable figure with the name Shenai was Shenai Singh, a Rajput warrior who fought against the Mughal Empire in the 16th century CE. He was known for his bravery and military prowess, and his name is mentioned in various historical accounts from that era.
In the 18th century, there was a famous Sikh warrior named Shenai Singh Dhillon, who played a crucial role in the battles against the Afghan invaders and the establishment of the Sikh Empire. He is remembered as a brave and skilled fighter who contributed significantly to the Sikh cause.
Moving forward in history, Shenai Patel was an Indian freedom fighter who participated in the struggle for independence from British rule in the early 20th century. He was a part of the non-violent civil disobedience movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and was imprisoned for his involvement in the protests.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Shenai, demonstrating its deep roots in ancient Sanskrit and its association with military and warrior traditions across various cultural and historical contexts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shenai over time
The chart below shows babies named Shenai registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shenai, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 16 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shenai by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shenai 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 | #5468 | 10 | 3 |
| 2000s | #2653 | 40 | 4 |
| 1990s | #3848 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Shenai
- 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
Shenai: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shenai in the UK right now?
In 2017, Shenai was ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shenai most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 16 babies registered as Shenai in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shenai?
A feminine name of Persian origin meaning "beautiful sound".
How many people are called Shenai in the UK?
A total of 53 babies have been registered as Shenai across the 8 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.