Shama: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	5	1	–	#7,959
1970s	91	9	+1720%	#4,000
1980s	125	13	+37%	#4,438
1990s	87	9	-30%	#5,782
2000s	69	7	-21%	#8,210
2010s	39	4	-43%	#10,828
2020s (to 2025)	35	6	+50%	#11,044

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

#7,959

1970s

+1720%

#4,000

1980s

125

+37%

#4,438

1990s

-30%

#5,782

2000s

-21%

#8,210

2010s

-43%

#10,828

2020s (to 2025)

+50%

#11,044

The story of Shama

Shama 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 1968, 451 American babies have been named Shama. Its peak came in 1979, when 18 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

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 Shama stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shama?

The median living Shama is about 35 years old; half are between 22 and 44. An estimated 400 people named Shama are alive in the United States today.

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

Shama 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	5	#17,314
2023	9	#11,044
2022	9	#11,108
2021	5	#17,316
2020	7	#13,262
2019	5	#17,611
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	7	#14,129
2015	5	#18,712
2014	10	#10,828
2013	–	–
2012	5	#19,125
2011	–	–
2010	7	#14,724
2009	–	–
2008	13	#9,406
2007	7	#15,221
2006	5	#19,563
2005	–	–
2004	8	#12,565
2003	8	#12,221
2002	13	#8,210
2001	9	#10,871
2000	6	#14,706
1995	6	#13,090
1990	16	#5,782
1985	13	#5,601
1980	10	#6,676
1975	10	#5,892
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Shama?

The median living Shama is about 35 years old. Half of all living Shamas are between 22 and 44 years old.

How many people named Shama are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Shama are alive in the United States, based on 451 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Shama in 2025?

Shama 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 Shama?

451 babies have been named Shama in the United States since 1968, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shama most popular?

Shama peaked in 1979, when 18 newborns received the name.

Is Shama a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Shama rising or falling?

Shama has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Shama

Shama popularity over time

The story of Shama

How old are people named Shama?

Shama year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Shama