UK girl's name
Sheva
Feminine Hebrew name meaning "seven", "oath", or "fullness".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sheva is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sheva popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 7 births.
This profile covers 34 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2001 to 2024. 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 34 living people in the UK are called Sheva. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sheva ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 7 girls were registered as Sheva.
- • About 34 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sheva as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2014
7 births
Estimated living
34
2026
Meaning
What does Sheva mean?
The name Sheva has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is believed to be derived from the Hebrew word "sheva," which means "seven" or "oath." This name may have been given to children born as the seventh child in a family or to signify a sacred promise or covenant.
In the biblical text of the Old Testament, the name Sheva appears in various forms, including Sheva and Shavsha. One notable figure bearing this name was Sheva, the son of Caleb, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 2:49 in the Bible. Sheva was also the name of a scribe who served under King David, as recorded in 2 Samuel 20:25.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Sheva can be found in the Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism. The Talmud mentions Sheva, a rabbi who lived in the 3rd century CE and was known for his wisdom and teachings.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Sheva. In the 11th century, Sheva ben Yosef was a renowned Spanish Jewish scholar and poet who lived in Seville, Spain. His works contributed significantly to the development of Hebrew literature and poetry during the Golden Age of Jewish culture in Spain.
In the 16th century, Sheva ben Ari was a prominent Kabbalist and rabbi from Safed, Palestine. He was known for his expertise in Jewish mysticism and was a disciple of the famous Kabbalist, Isaac Luria.
Another notable figure was Sheva Friedman (1910-1999), a Polish-born Israeli writer and Holocaust survivor. Her memoir, "This Was a Man," recounted her experiences during the Holocaust and paid tribute to her husband, who perished in the Nazi concentration camps.
In the realm of music, Sheva Alomar (born 1982) is a renowned Israeli singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She has gained recognition for her unique blend of Middle Eastern and Western musical styles, combining traditional Israeli and Arabic influences with modern genres.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Sheva throughout history, highlighting its cultural significance and enduring legacy across various fields and eras.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sheva over time
The chart below shows babies named Sheva registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sheva, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sheva by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sheva 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 | #5078 | 11 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4531 | 19 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3262 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Sheva
- 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
Sheva: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sheva in the UK right now?
In 2024, Sheva was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Sheva most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 7 babies registered as Sheva in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sheva?
Feminine Hebrew name meaning "seven", "oath", or "fullness".
How many people are called Sheva in the UK?
A total of 34 babies have been registered as Sheva 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.