Shakila is a unique and captivating female given name of Persian origin. The name means "how beautiful" or "how elegant" in Persian. It is derived from the Persian word "shah" meaning king, combined with "kila" meaning beauty or elegance. This makes Shakila a moniker that exudes royalty and grace.
The name Shakila has been popularized by several notable figures throughout history and media. One of the most famous bearers of this name is Pakistani actress and producer, Shakeela (born as Shahnaz Sheikh), who rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s for her roles in Urdu cinema.
Despite its popularity in certain circles, Shakila remains a relatively uncommon name worldwide. However, its distinctiveness contributes to its allure, making it an attractive choice for parents seeking a unique and meaningful name for their daughter. Those who bear the name Shakila carry with them not only a beautiful moniker but also a sense of elegance and royalty that is reminiscent of Persian culture and history.
Based on the statistics provided, it's clear that the name Shakila has seen varying levels of popularity over the past four decades in the United States.
The name first appeared in the top 1000 baby names list in 1978 with a total of 33 births. This was the peak year for the name's popularity, as it never reached this number again throughout the entire dataset provided. The following years saw a decline in the number of babies named Shakila, with only 16 and 20 births respectively in 1979 and 1980.
There was a brief resurgence in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with the name reaching its second-highest popularity level in 1991 with 52 births. This trend continued into the mid-1990s, with 40 births recorded in 1993.
However, since then, the popularity of the name Shakila has steadily declined. From 1996 onwards, the number of babies named Shakila has not exceeded double digits annually, with many years showing fewer than ten births. The most recent data point available is from 2011, which shows only five babies were named Shakila that year.
In total, over the span of nearly four decades (from 1975 to 2011), there have been 536 recorded births of girls named Shakila in the United States. While this number is not insignificant, it represents a relatively small portion of the overall baby name landscape during this period.
Despite the fluctuating popularity of the name Shakila over time, it's clear that it has maintained a consistent, albeit modest, presence among parents' choices for their daughters' names.