NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Shila

A feminine Hindu name of Sanskrit origin meaning "stone" or "rock".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Shila is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shila popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5707, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2005 to 2010. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Shila. 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 2011 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Shila ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales in 2010, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2005, when 3 girls were registered as Shila.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shila as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5707

2010

Births in 2010

3

Latest year

Peak year

2005

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Shila mean?

The name Shila is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, which has its roots in ancient India. The Sanskrit word "shila" means "rock" or "stone," and it is often associated with qualities such as strength, durability, and resilience.

In Hinduism, there are references to the name Shila in various scriptures and texts. One of the earliest mentions of the name can be found in the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic poem that dates back to around the 8th century BCE. In the Mahabharata, Shila is the name of a character who is described as a powerful warrior and a skilled archer.

Another notable historical reference to the name Shila comes from the ancient Indian text, the Upanishads. In the Upanishads, Shila is mentioned as a sage who imparted wisdom and spiritual knowledge to his disciples.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shila. One of the earliest recorded examples is Shila, an Indian mathematician and astronomer who lived during the 6th century CE. He is known for his contributions to the development of the Indian calendrical system and his work on the concept of zero.

Another prominent figure with the name Shila was Shila Devi, a 17th-century Indian queen who ruled the kingdom of Garhwal in present-day Uttarakhand, India. She is renowned for her military prowess and her efforts to protect her kingdom from foreign invaders.

In the field of literature, Shila Dhar was a prominent Indian poet and writer who lived in the 20th century. Born in 1908, she is best known for her poetic works that explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality.

Shila Vikal was an Indian social activist and environmentalist who dedicated her life to the preservation of natural resources and the promotion of sustainable living practices. Born in 1951, she founded the Beej Bachao Andolan (Save the Seeds Movement) and worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the importance of seed conservation.

Another notable figure with the name Shila was Shila Ghosh, an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who lived from 1920 to 2007. She was instrumental in reviving and popularizing the Manipuri dance form, a traditional dance style from the state of Manipur in northeastern India.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Shila. While the name may have its roots in ancient India and the Sanskrit language, it has transcended cultural and geographical boundaries and has been embraced by people from various backgrounds and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Shila over time

The chart below shows babies named Shila registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Shila, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2010, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Shila
01223200520072010

Decades

Shila by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shila 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 #5707 3 1
2000s #4798 3 1

Related

Names similar to Shila

FAQ

Shila: questions and answers

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

In 2010, Shila was ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Shila most popular?

The peak year on record was 2005, with 3 babies registered as Shila in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Shila?

A feminine Hindu name of Sanskrit origin meaning "stone" or "rock".

How many people are called Shila in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Shila across the 2 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.