UK girl's name
Shiya
A unisex name of uncertain origin, possibly related to the Hebrew shîr meaning "song".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shiya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shiya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 5 births.
This profile covers 22 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2007 to 2019. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 22 living people in the UK are called Shiya. 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 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shiya ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 5 girls were registered as Shiya.
- • About 22 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shiya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5591
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
2009
5 births
Estimated living
22
2026
Meaning
What does Shiya mean?
The name Shiya is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language originating in South Asia. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Shri," which means radiance, prosperity, or auspiciousness. The name Shiya can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, where it was often used as a name for deities or characters associated with divine qualities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shiya is found in the Rig Veda, a sacred Hindu scripture dating back to around 1500 BCE. In the Rig Veda, the name Shiya is mentioned in connection with a character described as a celestial being or a divine personification of light and radiance.
In ancient Hindu mythology, Shiya was also the name of a beautiful apsara (celestial nymph) who was known for her extraordinary beauty and grace. She is mentioned in the Puranas, which are ancient Hindu texts that narrate stories and legends about the creation, preservation, and destruction of the universe.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Shiya. One of the earliest recorded examples is Shiya, a renowned Indian mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 5th century CE. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and is credited with developing a method for calculating the circumference of the Earth.
In the 10th century, Shiya was the name of a prominent Chola king who ruled over parts of modern-day Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. He was known for his military conquests and for patronizing the arts and literature during his reign.
Another notable figure named Shiya was a 16th-century Mughal princess who was the daughter of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. She was known for her intelligence and her love for poetry and literature.
In more recent times, Shiya was the name of a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer who lived in the 20th century. She was instrumental in reviving and popularizing the ancient Indian dance form of Kathak.
Lastly, Shiya was also the name of a prominent Indian politician and social activist who fought for women's rights and played a significant role in the Indian independence movement in the early 20th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shiya over time
The chart below shows babies named Shiya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shiya, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shiya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shiya 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 | #5438 | 13 | 4 |
| 2000s | #4115 | 9 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Shiya
- 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
Shiya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shiya in the UK right now?
In 2019, Shiya was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shiya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 5 babies registered as Shiya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shiya?
A unisex name of uncertain origin, possibly related to the Hebrew shîr meaning "song".
How many people are called Shiya in the UK?
A total of 22 babies have been registered as Shiya across the 6 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.