Shantai
A feminine Hindu name derived from Sanskrit meaning "peace" or "tranquility".
Name Census estimates that about 151 living Americans carry the first name Shantai. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Shantai today is around 41 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shantai births was 1977 (15 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shantai. 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
151
~ 1 in 2,269,896 Americans
Peak year
1977
15 babies that year
Average age
41
years old
2002 SSA rank
#13,390
Tracked since 1974
Popularity
Shantai: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shantai 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 85 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
Shantai 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 Shantai during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Shantais live
Origin
Meaning and history of Shantai
The name Shantai has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, where it is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit language. It is a combination of two words, "shanti" meaning peace, tranquility or calmness, and "ai" which can be translated as "one who possesses" or "one who embodies." Together, the name Shantai can be interpreted as "one who embodies peace" or "one who possesses tranquility."
The earliest recorded instances of the name Shantai can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, where it was often used as a moniker for deities or spiritual figures associated with serenity and inner peace. In some Hindu traditions, the name Shantai is also linked to the concept of "ahimsa," or non-violence, further emphasizing its connection to peaceful and harmonious living.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Shantai was a renowned Indian scholar and philosopher who lived during the 7th century CE. Shantai Acharya was a respected teacher and author who made significant contributions to the field of Vedanta philosophy, which focuses on the spiritual pursuit of self-realization and the nature of consciousness.
In the 12th century, there was a prominent Indian poet and mystic named Shantai Suri, who composed numerous works in Sanskrit and Prakrit languages. His writings often explored themes of spirituality, devotion, and the pursuit of inner peace, reflecting the essence of his name.
Another notable figure with the name Shantai was Shantai Devi, a revered Hindu saint and mystic who lived in the 16th century. She was renowned for her unwavering devotion to the divine and her teachings on the importance of cultivating inner peace and compassion.
In the realm of art and culture, Shantai Ganju was a celebrated Indian dancer and choreographer who made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of classical Indian dance forms in the 20th century. Born in 1924, she dedicated her life to the art of Kathak, a dynamic and expressive dance style, and was widely recognized for her grace, artistry, and commitment to preserving cultural traditions.
Lastly, Shantai Ghosh was a prominent Indian writer and activist who lived from 1913 to 1995. She was a vocal advocate for women's rights and social justice, using her literary works to shed light on societal issues and promote peace, equality, and compassion – values that resonated deeply with the essence of her name.
People
Shantai + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shantai 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
Shantai: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shantai?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 151 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shantai 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 2,269,896 US residents.
Is Shantai a common name?
We classify Shantai as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 160 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shantai most popular?
The single biggest year for Shantai was 1977, when 15 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shantai is about 41 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shantai a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shantai 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.