UK girl's name
Shirin
A Persian name meaning "sweet" or "charming," of Persian origin.
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.
Shirin is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shirin popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 13 births.
This profile covers 112 England and Wales registrations across 21 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 31% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 111 living people in the UK are called Shirin. 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
- • Shirin ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 13 girls were registered as Shirin.
- • About 111 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shirin as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4843
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2003
13 births
Estimated living
111
2026
Meaning
What does Shirin mean?
The name Shirin is believed to have originated from the Persian language. It is derived from the Persian word "shir," which means "sweet" or "sugar." The name is thought to have been in use as early as the 6th century AD in ancient Persia, which is now modern-day Iran.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Shirin is in the famous Persian epic poem "Khosrow and Shirin," written by the renowned poet Nizami Ganjavi in the 12th century. The poem tells the love story between the Sasanian King Khosrow II and the Armenian princess Shirin, whose name means "sweet" in Persian.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shirin. One of the earliest was Shirin, the wife of the Sasanian King Khosrow II, who lived in the 7th century AD. Another famous Shirin was Shirin Banu Begum, the wife of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, who lived in the 16th century.
In more recent times, Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian lawyer, and human rights activist, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her efforts in promoting democracy and human rights. She was born in 1947 and continues to be an influential figure in the fight for women's rights and civil liberties.
Another notable figure was Shirin Neshat, an Iranian visual artist, filmmaker, and photographer, born in 1957. She is renowned for her works that explore the complexities of Islamic culture and gender roles.
ShirinAkhtar, an Indian classical singer and musician, was also a prominent figure in the 20th century. She was born in 1916 and was widely regarded as one of the greatest vocalists of her time, renowned for her mastery of the Khyal and Thumri genres.
These examples demonstrate the historical significance and enduring popularity of the name Shirin across various cultures and time periods, reflecting its Persian origins and its association with sweetness, beauty, and artistic expression.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shirin over time
The chart below shows babies named Shirin 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 Shirin, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shirin by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shirin 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 | #4843 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4962 | 28 | 7 |
| 2000s | #3035 | 58 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2621 | 22 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Shirin
- 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
Shirin: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shirin in the UK right now?
In 2024, Shirin was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Shirin most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 13 babies registered as Shirin in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shirin?
A Persian name meaning "sweet" or "charming," of Persian origin.
How many people are called Shirin in the UK?
A total of 112 babies have been registered as Shirin across the 21 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.