UK girl's name
Sheya
A Persian name meaning "precious gift" or "valuable present.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sheya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sheya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5556, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2009 to 2009. 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.
Sheya is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Sheya. 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 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sheya ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales in 2009, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 3 girls were registered as Sheya.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sheya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5556
2009
Births in 2009
3
Latest year
Peak year
2009
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Sheya mean?
The name Sheya is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language of ancient India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Shiya," which means "cool" or "pleasing." The name is thought to have emerged during the Vedic period, which spanned from approximately 1500 BCE to 500 BCE.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Sheya can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures known as the Vedas. In the Rig Veda, one of the oldest and most revered texts in Hinduism, there is a reference to a sage named Sheya who was renowned for his wisdom and spiritual teachings.
During the Maurya Empire, which ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent from 322 BCE to 185 BCE, there was a prominent military commander named Sheya. He played a crucial role in the expansion of the empire under the reign of Chandragupta Maurya.
In the 9th century CE, there was a celebrated poet and scholar from the region of present-day Rajasthan named Sheya Thakur. His works were widely acclaimed for their literary merit and philosophical insights.
In the 14th century, a Sufi mystic and spiritual leader named Sheya al-Din was born in the city of Multan, which is now part of modern-day Pakistan. He was known for his teachings on love, tolerance, and the pursuit of inner peace.
Another notable figure in history with the name Sheya was a Buddhist monk who lived in the 16th century in the region of present-day Nepal. He was revered for his mastery of meditation and his contributions to the preservation of ancient Buddhist texts.
While the name Sheya has its roots in ancient India, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly in regions with significant Indian diaspora populations. However, its historical significance remains deeply rooted in the rich cultural and spiritual traditions of the Indian subcontinent.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Sheya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sheya 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 | #5556 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Sheya
- 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
Sheya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sheya in the UK right now?
In 2009, Sheya was ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Sheya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 3 babies registered as Sheya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sheya?
A Persian name meaning "precious gift" or "valuable present.".
How many people are called Sheya in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Sheya across the 1 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.