UK girl's name
Shifa
A feminine Arabic name meaning "healing" or "cure".
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.
Shifa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shifa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1198, with 28 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 29 births.
This profile covers 467 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 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 97% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 465 living people in the UK are called Shifa. 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
- • Shifa ranked #1198 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 28 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 29 girls were registered as Shifa.
- • About 465 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shifa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1198
2024
Births in 2024
28
Latest year
Peak year
2014
29 births
Estimated living
465
2026
Meaning
What does Shifa mean?
The name Shifa is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word "shifa" meaning "healing" or "cure." It is believed to have originated during the early Islamic era, around the 7th century AD, when Arabic culture and language were spreading across the Middle East and North Africa.
Shifa is a name with strong religious and spiritual connotations in Islamic tradition. In the Quran, the holy book of Islam, the word "shifa" is mentioned several times, referring to the healing power of faith and the guidance provided by the divine revelations. The name Shifa is often associated with the idea of spiritual and physical healing, making it a popular choice among Muslim families.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shifa can be found in the writings of renowned Islamic scholars and historians from the 8th and 9th centuries. For example, the famous historian and geographer al-Muqaddasi (945-1000 AD) mentioned a woman named Shifa in his work, "Ahsan al-Taqasim fi Ma'rifat al-Aqalim" (The Best Divisions for Knowledge of the Regions).
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Shifa, including:
1. Shifa Gardi (1993-2017), a Kurdish journalist and humanitarian worker who was killed while reporting on the battle for Mosul in Iraq. 2. Shifa Alvi (born 1957), a Pakistani politician and member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. 3. Shifa Fathima (born 1992), an Indian actress and model known for her work in Malayalam cinema. 4. Shifa Prabhu (born 1996), an Indian cricketer who has represented India in women's cricket. 5. Shifa Wizarat (born 1981), an Afghan human rights activist and researcher who has worked on issues related to women's rights and gender equality.
These individuals, spanning different eras and fields, have carried the name Shifa and contributed to various aspects of society, including journalism, politics, entertainment, sports, and human rights advocacy.
The name Shifa continues to be popular among Muslim communities around the world, particularly in the Middle East, South Asia, and parts of Africa. Its deep-rooted meaning and cultural significance have made it a cherished choice for parents seeking a name that reflects their religious and cultural values, as well as their hopes for their child's well-being and spiritual growth.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shifa over time
The chart below shows babies named Shifa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Shifa, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 28 births in 2024, compared with 29 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shifa by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shifa 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 | #1681 | 95 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1545 | 204 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1527 | 153 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2757 | 15 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Shifa
- 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
Shifa: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shifa in the UK right now?
In 2024, Shifa was ranked #1198 for girls in England and Wales, with 28 births registered.
When was Shifa most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 29 babies registered as Shifa in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shifa?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "healing" or "cure".
How many people are called Shifa in the UK?
A total of 467 babies have been registered as Shifa across the 28 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.