Sharmayne
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from English surnames.
Name Census estimates that about 228 living Americans carry the first name Sharmayne. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Sharmayne today is around 41 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sharmayne births was 1991 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sharmayne. 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
228
~ 1 in 1,503,309 Americans
Peak year
1991
17 babies that year
Average age
41
years old
2004 SSA rank
#18,369
Tracked since 1952
Census
Sharmayne in the 2020 Census
The 2020 Census recorded 259 people with the first name Sharmayne, which placed it at #32,463 in the published first-name tables. This is a snapshot of people who already had the name at the time of the Census.
The SSA sections elsewhere on this page answer a different question: how often parents gave the name to babies over time. The "people living today" figure on this page is different again: it is a current estimate built from SSA birth records and age-based survival rates, so the two numbers are not expected to match exactly.
2020 Census rank
#32,463
National first-name rank
People counted
259
259 in the published race/origin table
Per 100,000
0.1
People with this name in 2020
Largest reported group
Black or African American
54.4% of people with this name
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sharmayne
In the 2020 Census race and Hispanic-origin table, the largest reported group for people named Sharmayne is Black at 54.4%. The next largest groups are White (19.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (8.9%). These figures describe the people who had the name in 2020, not any inherent property of the name itself.
The bar chart below shows how people with the first name Sharmayne described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given name, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown so the breakdown is easy to read across every published category. Because the 2020 Census first-name file also includes raw headcounts for each group, Name Census can show those alongside the percentages in the legend and hover tooltip.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A first name does not determine a person's race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the name Sharmayne at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American54.4% · 141
- White19.7% · 51
- American Indian and Alaska Native8.9% · 23
- Asian and Pacific Islander7.7% · 20
- Hispanic or Latino5.4% · 14
- Two or more races3.9% · 10
Popularity
Sharmayne: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Sharmayne from the 1950s through to the 2000s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 95 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sharmayne 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 Sharmayne during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Sharmayne
The given name Sharmayne is believed to have its origins in the English language, derived from the combination of the Old English words "scearp" and "mayne," which together translate to "sharp strength" or "powerful force." This unique name is thought to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century, likely as a way to convey admiration for an individual's inner fortitude and resilience.
While there are no definitive historical records of the name's earliest use, some scholars suggest that it may have been inspired by the legendary exploits of valiant knights and warriors of the time, whose bravery and prowess on the battlefield were celebrated through the bestowing of such names. The name's distinctive blend of strength and sharpness could have been a symbolic acknowledgment of these qualities in those who bore it.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sharmayne can be found in the writings of the 14th-century English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, who included a character by that name in his iconic work, "The Canterbury Tales." This literary reference provides a glimpse into the name's usage during the late medieval period.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have carried the name Sharmayne. One such figure was Sharmayne de Montfort (1238-1301), a French noblewoman and heiress who played a significant role in the conflicts between the English and French monarchies during the 13th century. Her unwavering determination and resilience in the face of adversity earned her a place in the annals of history.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Sharmayne Woodard (1590-1667), an English playwright and poet whose works were celebrated for their vivid imagery and powerful narratives. Her plays often explored themes of courage, honor, and the triumph of the human spirit, reflecting the essence of her name.
In the 18th century, Sharmayne Beaumont (1725-1789) was a renowned French botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life. Her meticulous observations and detailed descriptions showcased a sharp intellect and a keen eye for detail, embodying the qualities associated with her name.
The 19th century saw the rise of Sharmayne Nightingale (1820-1910), a British nurse and social reformer whose tireless efforts to improve healthcare and sanitation practices revolutionized the nursing profession. Her unwavering dedication and strength of character earned her a place among the most influential figures of her time.
In more recent history, Sharmayne Davis (1928-2008) was an American civil rights activist and advocate for racial equality. Her unwavering commitment to justice and her powerful voice in the fight against discrimination left an indelible mark on the civil rights movement.
People
Sharmayne + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sharmayne 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
Sharmayne: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sharmayne?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 228 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sharmayne 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 1,503,309 US residents.
Is Sharmayne a common name?
We classify Sharmayne as "Very Rare". It ranks above 75.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 246 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sharmayne most popular?
The single biggest year for Sharmayne was 1991, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sharmayne is about 41 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
How common was Sharmayne in the 2020 Census?
The published 2020 Census first-name tables recorded 259 people with the name Sharmayne, or 0.09 per 100,000 residents. That placed it at #32,463 in the national Census ranking for first names.
Why is the Census count different from the living estimate?
Because they measure different things. The Census figure is a count of people who had the name Sharmayne in 2020. The living estimate aims to answer a current question instead: how many people with the name are alive today, based on SSA birth records and age-based survival rates. Since one number is a 2020 snapshot and the other is a present-day estimate, they are not expected to be identical.
What does the Census say about the gender split for Sharmayne?
In the 2020 Census sex table, Sharmayne appears almost entirely female. Of the 257 people counted with this name, 99.6% were female and only a very small share were male. The Census view is a snapshot of people living with the name in 2020, while the SSA section above tracks births across time.
What does the Census say about the background of people named Sharmayne?
In the 2020 Census race and Hispanic-origin table, the largest reported group for people named Sharmayne is Black at 54.4%. The next largest groups are White (19.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (8.9%). These figures describe the people who had the name in 2020, not any inherent property of the name itself. The percentages in the chart above come from self-reported race and Hispanic-origin responses in the 2020 Census.
Which group reports the name Sharmayne most often in the Census?
Black is the largest reported group for people named Sharmayne in the 2020 Census, accounting for 54.4% (141 people in the published table).
Why can the Census sex total and race total differ slightly?
The Census Bureau published separate 2020 tables for sex and for race/Hispanic origin, and the released figures can differ slightly because of privacy protection in the public files. That is why this page treats the gender section and the race/origin section as two related snapshots instead of forcing them into one identical total.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only includes names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files have no Census demographic snapshot. When that happens, the SSA trend, gender history, and state sections still appear, but the 2020 Census demographic sections are omitted.
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 Sharmayne in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Sharmayne a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Sharmayne 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 Sharmayne still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Sharmayne 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 Sharmayne 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.
How many people share the name Sharmayne?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.