Shanaya
How to say it: shuh-NAY-uh · /ʃəˈnaɪə/
From Sanskrit meaning 'first ray of sun' - popular modern name in India and diaspora.
Shanaya was the 1,530th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 97 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2010s, its births are down about 42% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #2,007 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,530 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 97 |
| Share of births | 1 in 34,178 |
| Peak decade | 2010s |
| Change over 10 years | −42% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #2,007 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,359 among girls’ names, 15 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Shanaya is a newcomer: almost all of its history is from the last forty years.
What goes with it
Nicknames
- Shan
- Naya
- Shaya
Honouring a Shanaya in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Shanaya is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Hindi.
In France: #1,359 for girls in 2025.
Keep exploring
About as popular as Shanaya
Find names you'll both love, starting with Shanaya
The one-minute style quiz.