Shakira

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Girl · Arabic

Shakira

Say it: shah-KEER-ah

Try it with your surname

Meaning

From Arabic shākira 'grateful, thankful'.

Certainscholars agree on this meaning.

Its wave through time

Most used in the 2000s

In the United States

8,195 babies given this name since 1970
At its height in 2002, about 1 in 3,500 girls
25 babies in 2020

Through the ages

The Modern Age1880 to today

Used by

African American American

The family of the name

Other spellings: Shakirah

Arabic	Shākira

Famous bearers

Shakira, Colombian singer

Names worth a look

ZoraGirlSlavic zora 'dawn'.Victorian · peak 1884

JamilaGirlFrom Arabic jamīla 'beautiful'.Modern · peak 1977 · forgotten

KenyattaGirl or boyFrom the surname of Jomo Kenyatta, first president of Kenya, which he took from kinyata, a Kikuyu beaded belt.Modern · peak 1975 · forgotten

LaShondaGirlA modern African American coinage combining La- with Shonda, a respelling probably related to Rhonda.Modern · peak 1976 · forgotten

ShaniceGirlA modern African American coinage, probably blending Sha- with Janice or Denise.Modern · peak 1992 · forgotten

KhadijahGirlArabic, usually explained as 'early-born (premature) child'.Modern · peak 1994 · forgotten

Where this comes from

United States Social Security birth records, 1880 to today source
United States Social Security birth records, 1880 to today source

Meanings and histories are compiled from the study of names and their languages and checked by a second review.

Meanings and histories are drawn from the study of names and their languages, each with a confidence rating; popularity figures come from official birth records. Name histories are a living field: if you know of a correction, we would be glad to hear it.