Shamaree
A feminine name of African origin meaning "beautiful butterfly".
Name Census estimates that about 33 living Americans carry the first name Shamaree. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 85.3% of registrations being female. The average person named Shamaree today is around 23 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shamaree births was 2005 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shamaree. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Shamaree. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
33
~ 1 in 10,386,495 Americans
Peak year
2005
8 babies that year
Average age
23
years old
2003 SSA rank
#12,470
Tracked since 2001
Gender
Gender distribution for Shamaree
Shamaree leans heavily female at 85.3% of total registrations, but 5 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Shamaree as a male name
- Ranked #12,470 in 2003
- 5 male births in 2003
- Peak: 2003 (5 births)
Shamaree as a female name
- Ranked #19,998 in 2008
- 5 female births in 2008
- Peak: 2005 (8 births)
Popularity
Shamaree: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Shamaree 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 Shamaree during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5 | 29 | 34 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Shamaree
The name Shamaree is believed to have originated from the Arabic language, although its exact roots remain uncertain. Some scholars trace its origins to the Arabic word "shamar," which means "to guard" or "to protect," suggesting that the name may have been bestowed upon individuals who were seen as guardians or protectors.
In ancient times, names often carried significant meaning and were chosen to reflect desired qualities or aspirations for the child. The name Shamaree could have been used to express the wish for the child to be a protector or guardian, either in a literal sense or as a symbolic representation of strength and resilience.
Records of the name Shamaree can be found in various historical texts and documents, although its usage appears to have been relatively limited in ancient times. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the 9th century, when a scholar named Shamaree ibn al-Qasim was mentioned in an Arabic manuscript on astronomy and mathematics.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Shamaree. In the 12th century, Shamaree al-Andalusi was a renowned poet and philosopher from Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain and Portugal). His works celebrated the beauty of nature and explored themes of love and spirituality.
During the Ottoman Empire, Shamaree Pasha was a high-ranking military commander who led Ottoman forces in several battles against the Venetians in the 16th century. His strategic prowess and leadership skills were widely respected by his contemporaries.
In the realm of literature, Shamaree al-Baghdadi was an influential Arabic writer and scholar who lived in the 13th century. His works, which included poetry and prose, contributed significantly to the literary traditions of the time.
Another notable figure was Shamaree al-Habashi, a skilled calligrapher and artist who lived in the 15th century. His intricate calligraphic works adorned the walls of mosques and palaces throughout the Middle East, showcasing the beauty and elegance of Arabic script.
While the name Shamaree has its roots in the Arabic language, it has transcended cultural boundaries and been adopted by various communities around the world. Its enduring presence serves as a testament to the rich tapestry of human diversity and the shared desire to bestow meaningful names upon new generations.
People
Shamaree + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shamaree 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
Shamaree: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shamaree?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 33 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shamaree 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 10,386,495 US residents.
Is Shamaree a common name?
We classify Shamaree as "Very Rare". It ranks above 48% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 34 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shamaree most popular?
The single biggest year for Shamaree was 2005, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shamaree is about 23 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Shamaree in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Shamaree a female name?
Yes, 85.3% of people registered as Shamaree 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.
Is Shamaree still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Shamaree in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Shamaree can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Shamaree?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.