Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1991

Shala

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Shala
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1991
89 babies
All-time total
2,061
#4,619 all-time among girls
First recorded
1947
in Social Security records

Shala popularity over time

2,061 babies have been named Shala since 1947, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.030.040.0518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1988Girls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s 6 1 – #5,209
1950s 21 2 +250% #4,454
1960s 102 10 +386% #3,606
1970s 469 47 +360% #1,556
1980s 670 67 +43% #1,534
1990s 579 58 -14% #1,675
2000s 193 19 -67% #3,718
2010s 21 2 -89% #11,071
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Shala

Shala is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1947, 2,061 American babies have been named Shala. Its peak came in 1991, when 89 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Shala stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shala?

The median living Shala is about 38 years old; half are between 32 and 47. An estimated 2,000 people named Shala are alive in the United States today.

median 38 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Shala year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 6 #16,540
2011 10 #11,071
2010 5 #19,390
2009 10 #11,342
2008 12 #9,983
2007 15 #8,457
2006 20 #6,566
2005 12 #9,361
2004 21 #5,937
2003 13 #8,409
2002 22 #5,417
2001 33 #3,926
2000 35 #3,718
1995 52 #2,478
1990 75 #1,888
1985 80 #1,534
1980 69 #1,672
1975 48 #1,899
1970 15 #4,007
1965 13 #3,700
1960 5 #7,136
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Shala, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Shala?

The median living Shala is about 38 years old. Half of all living Shalas are between 32 and 47 years old.

How many people named Shala are alive today?

An estimated 2,000 people named Shala are alive in the United States, based on 2,061 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Shala in 2025?

Shala did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Shala?

2,061 babies have been named Shala in the United States since 1947, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shala most popular?

Shala peaked in 1991, when 89 newborns received the name.

Is Shala a boy or girl name?

Shala is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Shala rising or falling?

Shala has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Shala

Names that sound and feel close to Shala: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Shala with similar names → More names starting with S →