NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Shia

A diminutive of Shiva, derived from Persian meaning "descendant of Ali".

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.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 34 girls.

Shia is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Shia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2088, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 16 births.

This profile covers 141 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2007 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 69% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 140 living people in the UK are called Shia. 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

  • Shia ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 16 boys were registered as Shia.
  • Shia is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 140 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 80.6% of Shia registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2088

2024

Births in 2024

11

Latest year

Peak year

2022

16 births

Estimated living

140

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Shia

In England and Wales birth records, Shia has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 80.6% of registrations are for boys and 19.4% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

81% boys
19% girls
Boys141 (80.6%)Girls34 (19.4%)

Shia registered for boys

  • Ranked #2,088 in 2024
  • 11 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2022 (16 births)

Shia registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,669 in 2022
  • 3 girls registered in 2022
  • Peak: 2011 (6 births)

Meaning

What does Shia mean?

The name Shia finds its origins in Arabic, with roots dating back to the early days of Islam in the 7th century CE. It is derived from the Arabic word "Shi'a," which means "follower" or "partisan." This name is closely linked to the Shia branch of Islam, which emerged after the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 CE.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Shia can be found in the historical accounts of the early Islamic caliphates and the conflicts that arose between the Sunni and Shia sects. The name gained prominence as a designation for those who followed the teachings of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, and his descendants.

Throughout Islamic history, there have been several notable figures bearing the name Shia. One of the most prominent was Shia al-Isfahani, a renowned Islamic scholar and historian who lived in the 10th century CE. He is renowned for his work "Kitab al-Aghani," a monumental collection of Arabic poetry and biographical accounts of poets.

Another important figure in Shia history was Shia al-Bukhari, a 9th-century Islamic scholar known for his contributions to the study of Hadith (the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad). His work, "Sahih al-Bukhari," is considered one of the most authoritative collections of Hadith in Sunni Islam.

In more recent times, Shia LaBeouf, an American actor born in 1986, has brought the name into the public spotlight. Known for his roles in films such as "Transformers" and "Fury," he has garnered both critical acclaim and media attention for his acting career and personal life.

Shia Kapos, an American journalist and writer born in the mid-20th century, is also a notable figure associated with this name. She has worked for various publications, including the Chicago Sun-Times and Crain's Chicago Business, covering topics related to politics and business.

It is worth noting that while the name Shia has its roots in Arabic and Islamic culture, it has transcended these boundaries and has been adopted by various cultures and communities around the world, often with slight variations in spelling or pronunciation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shia over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Shia in England and Wales, from 2007 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 Shia, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
05101419200720152024

Decades

Shia by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shia 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 #2196 53 5
2010s #2691 74 10
2000s #3522 14 3

Related

Names similar to Shia

FAQ

Shia: questions and answers

How popular is the name Shia in the UK right now?

In 2024, Shia was ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.

When was Shia most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 16 babies registered as Shia in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shia?

A diminutive of Shiva, derived from Persian meaning "descendant of Ali".

How many people are called Shia in the UK?

A total of 141 babies have been registered as Shia across the 18 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.