UK girl's name
Shir
A Hebrew name meaning "poem" or "song".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1996. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shir is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shir popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1996 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3795, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1996 to 1996. 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.
Shir is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Shir. 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 1997 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shir ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales in 1996, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 girls were registered as Shir.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shir as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3795
1996
Births in 1996
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Shir mean?
The name Shir originates from the Persian language, where it means "lion" or "brave." This name has its roots in ancient Persia, which is now modern-day Iran, and dates back to the 6th century BCE.
Shir is derived from the Old Persian word "šir," which is also the root of several other words in various languages, such as the Arabic "shir" and the Hebrew "shor." The name has been used in various forms throughout history, including Shir, Shyr, and Sher.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Shir can be found in the Shahnameh, the epic Persian poem written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century CE. In this work, Shir is mentioned as the name of a brave warrior and hero.
In Islamic tradition, the name Shir is associated with the concept of bravery and strength, as it is believed to be one of the names of the prophet Muhammad's uncle, Hamza ibn Abdul-Muttalib, who was known for his courage and valor in battle.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Shir. One of the most famous was Shir Shah Suri (1472-1545), an Afghan ruler who established the Sur Empire in India and is renowned for his administrative reforms and architectural contributions, including the construction of the Grand Trunk Road.
Another prominent figure was Shir Ali Khan (1825-1879), the Emir of Afghanistan from 1863 to 1879, who played a significant role in the Second Anglo-Afghan War and is remembered for his efforts to modernize and strengthen the Afghan state.
In the realm of literature, Shir Khuda Ghulam Nabi (1654-1731) was a celebrated Kashmiri poet who wrote in the Persian language and is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the literary tradition of Kashmir.
Shir Muhammad Khan Abbasi (1853-1926) was a renowned Pashtun freedom fighter and poet who played a crucial role in the resistance against British colonial rule in the North-West Frontier Province of British India (now part of Pakistan).
Lastly, Shir Ahmad Khan (1922-2008) was a prominent Afghan politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Afghanistan from 1967 to 1971 and played a significant role in the country's foreign relations during the Cold War era.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Shir by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shir 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3795 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Shir
- 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
Shir: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shir in the UK right now?
In 1996, Shir was ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shir most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Shir in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shir?
A Hebrew name meaning "poem" or "song".
How many people are called Shir in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Shir 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.