Shakina
A feminine Arabic name meaning "beautiful and charming woman".
Name Census estimates that about 630 living Americans carry the first name Shakina. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Shakina today is around 40 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shakina births was 1982 (48 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shakina. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
630
~ 1 in 544,055 Americans
Peak year
1982
48 babies that year
Average age
40
years old
2007 SSA rank
#13,725
Tracked since 1973
Popularity
Shakina: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shakina from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 309 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shakina by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Shakina during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Shakinas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. New York, Georgia, Pennsylvania recorded the most babies named Shakina, while Florida, Pennsylvania, Georgia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 33 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Shakina
The name Shakina is believed to have originated from the Arabic language, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Eastern region. It is derived from the Arabic word "shukr," which means gratitude or thankfulness. The name is often associated with the divine feminine energy and is considered a variation of the Hebrew name Shekinah, which refers to the divine presence or the dwelling place of God in Jewish mysticism.
One of the earliest known references to the name Shakina can be found in ancient Islamic texts and literature. It was a popular name among Muslim communities, particularly in regions with strong Arabic cultural influences. The name gained widespread recognition during the medieval period, when it was associated with spiritual enlightenment and devotion.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Shakina. One of the earliest recorded examples is Shakina bint al-Husayn (born around 680 CE), a renowned scholar and poetess from the Umayyad Caliphate. She was highly respected for her intellectual prowess and contributed significantly to the literary and cultural landscape of her time.
Another prominent figure was Shakina Khanum (1828-1905), a Persian princess and the wife of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, the ruler of Persia (modern-day Iran) during the 19th century. She played a vital role in promoting education and cultural exchange within the royal court.
In the realm of literature, Shakina Mohammadi (born 1979) is a contemporary Afghan writer and human rights activist. Her works shed light on the experiences of women in Afghanistan and the challenges they face in a conflict-ridden society.
Shakina Nayfack (born 1979) is an American actress, writer, and transgender rights activist. She is known for her groundbreaking work in the realm of transgender representation in the arts and her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.
Lastly, Shakina Reinier (born 1985) is a renowned Dutch model and television personality. She has graced the covers of numerous fashion magazines and has been a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, both in the Netherlands and internationally.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Shakina throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human culture and achievements.
People
Shakina + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shakina as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Shakina: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shakina?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 630 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shakina going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 544,055 US residents.
Is Shakina a common name?
We classify Shakina as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 668 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shakina most popular?
The single biggest year for Shakina was 1982, when 48 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shakina is about 40 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shakina a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shakina in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.