Shera
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "lioness" or "brave warrior".
Name Census estimates that about 1,320 living Americans carry the first name Shera. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Shera today is around 48 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shera births was 1986 (135 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shera. 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
1.3K
~ 1 in 259,662 Americans
Peak year
1986
135 babies that year
Average age
48
years old
2013 SSA rank
#16,255
Tracked since 1938
Popularity
Shera: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Shera from the 1930s through to the 2010s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 602 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
Shera 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 Shera during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Sheras live
The SSA's state-level files cover 14 states and territories. Texas, California, New York recorded the most babies named Shera, while Tennessee, New Jersey, Virginia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 22 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Shera
The name Shera is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is one of the oldest languages in the world and is the primary sacred language of Hinduism. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "shri," which means "prosperity" or "radiance." It is thought to have first emerged in ancient India during the Vedic period, which spanned from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE.
While the name Shera does not appear to be directly referenced in any ancient Hindu texts or scriptures, the root word "shri" is frequently found in various sacred texts, such as the Vedas and the Upanishads. It is often used as a prefix or honorific title to denote respect, auspiciousness, and divine grace.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shera dates back to the 6th century CE, when it was mentioned in an ancient Indian text known as the Brihat Samhita, a comprehensive work on astrology, mathematics, and architecture. The text briefly references a person named Shera, though details about their life and significance are scarce.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Shera. One of the most famous was Shera Khan (1538-1628), a powerful Afghan ruler who established the Sur Empire in northern India during the 16th century. Another notable figure was Shera Singh (1807-1843), a prominent Sikh warrior and military leader who fought against the British East India Company during the Anglo-Sikh Wars.
In more recent times, Shera Devi (1879-1944) was an Indian freedom fighter and social reformer who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. She was awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, for her contributions to the nation.
Another notable individual with the name Shera was Shera Wali Khan (1909-1987), a renowned Pakistani politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1965 to 1966. He was also the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs and played a crucial role in shaping Pakistan's foreign policy during the Cold War era.
Lastly, Shera Bechard (born 1986) is a contemporary Canadian actress and filmmaker known for her work in several independent films and television series. She has received critical acclaim for her performances and has been recognized with various awards and nominations.
While the name Shera may have evolved and gained popularity in different regions and cultures over time, its roots can be traced back to the ancient Sanskrit language and the cultural heritage of the Indian subcontinent.
People
Shera + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shera 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
Shera: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shera?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,320 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shera 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 259,662 US residents.
Is Shera a common name?
We classify Shera as "Rare". It ranks above 91.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,507 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shera most popular?
The single biggest year for Shera was 1986, when 135 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shera is about 48 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Shera a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shera 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.