Shamya
Of Sanskrit origin, meaning divine, heavenly, or celestial.
Name Census estimates that about 2,133 living Americans carry the first name Shamya. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Shamya today is around 21 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shamya births was 2005 (174 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shamya. 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
2.1K
~ 1 in 160,691 Americans
Peak year
2005
174 babies that year
Average age
21
years old
2024 SSA rank
#14,963
Tracked since 1983
Popularity
Shamya: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shamya from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 1,451 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shamya 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 Shamya during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Shamyas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 20 states and territories. Georgia, North Carolina, Florida recorded the most babies named Shamya, while New Jersey, Arkansas, Wisconsin recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 66 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Shamya
The name Shamya has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language from the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have emerged around the 2nd millennium BCE, making it one of the oldest languages in the world. The name Shamya is derived from the Sanskrit word "Shama," which means peace, tranquility, or calmness.
In ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, such as the Vedas and the Upanishads, the concept of "Shama" was deeply revered and considered a virtue. It was seen as a state of inner peace and harmony, which was essential for spiritual growth and enlightenment. The name Shamya, therefore, carries the essence of this ancient wisdom and philosophy.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Shamya can be traced back to ancient Indian literature and historical records. One notable example is Shamya, the daughter of the famous Indian philosopher and scholar, Adi Shankara, who lived in the 8th century CE. She is mentioned in several texts as a highly learned individual who followed in her father's footsteps.
Another prominent figure in history who bore the name Shamya was Shamya Jyotishi, a renowned astrologer and mathematician who lived in the 12th century CE. He is known for his contributions to the field of astrology and for writing several treatises on the subject.
In the realm of Indian classical music, Shamya Bhatt was a prominent vocalist and composer from the 16th century. She is credited with popularizing the Dhrupad style of singing and composing several beautiful compositions that are still performed today.
Moving forward in time, Shamya Dasgupta was a notable Indian freedom fighter who played an active role in the Indian independence movement against British rule in the early 20th century. She was imprisoned multiple times for her participation in the non-violent resistance movement led by Mahatma Gandhi.
More recently, Shamya Navile is a contemporary Indian actress and model who has appeared in several Bollywood films and television shows. She has gained recognition for her versatile acting skills and her commitment to social causes.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Shamya. The name continues to be popular in India and among the Indian diaspora around the world, carrying with it the essence of peace, tranquility, and the rich cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent.
People
Shamya + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shamya 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
Shamya: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shamya?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2,133 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shamya 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 160,691 US residents.
Is Shamya a common name?
We classify Shamya as "Rare". It ranks above 94% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,167 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shamya most popular?
The single biggest year for Shamya was 2005, when 174 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shamya is about 21 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shamya a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shamya 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.