Explore Baby Names
Curating meaningful names for the next generation. Search through thousands of names with deep historical roots and modern appeal.
Shalvah
“Tranquillity, serenity, peace of mind”
Shalvah is a Hebrew feminine name meaning 'tranquility,' 'serenity,' or 'peace of mind,' derived from the root relating to a state of ease and quiet contentment. It expresses a deeply felt wish for inner calm.
Shalviya
“My tranquillity, divine peace”
Shalviya is a Hebrew feminine name meaning 'my tranquility' or 'God is my peace,' combining the root for serenity with a possessive or divine suffix. It is an elegant, somewhat rare elaboration on the concept of peaceful contentment.
Sham
“The Levant, the north”
Sham primarily means 'the Levant' or 'Syria' in Arabic, referring to the blessed region of Greater Syria encompassing modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine. It can also mean 'the north' or 'the left,' as the Levant lies to the north and left of the Arabian Peninsula when facing east. The name carries connotations of cultural richness, ancient civilisation, and spiritual significance.
Shambhavi
“Belonging to Shiva, embodiment of auspiciousness”
Shambhavi is a sacred Sanskrit name meaning 'born of Shambhu' or 'belonging to Shiva', where Shambhu is one of the most celebrated names of Lord Shiva meaning 'the auspicious one'. The name is used as an epithet for Goddess Parvati, the consort of Shiva, and represents divine feminine energy and benevolence. It carries connotations of auspiciousness, grace, and spiritual power.
Shamgar
“Uncertain: possibly sword, or gift of Shimike”
Shamgar is an ancient Hebrew name of uncertain etymology, possibly meaning 'sword' or derived from a Hurrian or Canaanite name, meaning 'the god Shimike is gracious.' He is a minor judge in the Hebrew Bible known for his single, heroic act of valor.
Shamil
“Comprehensive, inclusive”
Shamil derives from the Arabic root meaning comprehensive or all-encompassing. It describes a person of broad vision and generous spirit, one who embraces all aspects of life without exclusion. The name carries a philosophical depth, suggesting someone whose character contains multitudes and who approaches the world with open arms.
Shams
“Sun”
Shams is the Arabic word for sun, one of the most powerful and universal symbols in human culture. In Arabic, the sun is feminine in grammatical gender, and Shams has historically been used as a given name for both women and men. It appears in compound names such as Shams ad-Din, meaning sun of the religion, a title of honour given to scholars and spiritual figures. As a standalone name, Shams radiates warmth, brilliance, and life-giving energy. It is a name that needs no elaboration: direct, luminous, and complete.
Shanaya
“First ray of the sun”
Shanaya is a modern Hindi name meaning 'the first ray of the sun' or 'eminent.' It evokes the warmth, promise, and gentle beauty of sunrise, suggesting a child who brings light and hope. The name has a graceful, flowing quality that has made it enormously popular in recent years.
Shanfeng
“Mountain peak, towering summit”
Shanfeng (山峰) joins 山 (shān), meaning 'mountain,' with 峰 (fēng), meaning 'peak' or 'summit.' The name conveys an image of towering strength, ambition, and the grandeur of reaching the highest point, reflecting aspirations for a life of great achievement.
Shani
“Marvellous; wonderful; remarkable”
Shani is a Hebrew name meaning scarlet or crimson. The colour scarlet appears throughout the Torah, used in the construction of the Tabernacle, in priestly garments, and in ritual purification rites. It carries associations of sanctity, passion, and vitality. Shani is a popular modern Israeli name and is also used in East African communities, where it derives from Swahili meaning wonderful or marvellous.
Shankar
“Giver of happiness, the auspicious one”
Shankar is a revered Sanskrit name meaning 'giver of happiness', 'the auspicious one', or 'one who brings peace and bliss'. It is one of the most celebrated names of Lord Shiva, the Hindu deity of destruction and transformation. The name is associated with divine grace, spiritual wisdom, and the power to bestow wellbeing.
Shannon
“Old, ancient river”
Shannon takes its name from the River Shannon, Ireland's longest and most historically significant river, which flows through the heart of the country. The name is believed to derive from the Old Irish sen, meaning old or ancient, giving it a sense of timeless depth and endurance. In Irish mythology, the river itself is associated with Sionann, a goddess who drowned seeking the salmon of wisdom at Connla's Well, adding a layer of myth and mysticism to the name.
Shanshan
“Graceful, like swaying coral”
Shanshan employs the Chinese literary device of reduplication, repeating a character to intensify its quality and create a musical, flowing effect. The character shan can mean graceful, coral, or the gentle swaying of silk. Doubled, it evokes something soft and rhythmically beautiful, like coral moving in water or fine fabric caught in a breeze. The name has a delicate, feminine quality and sounds gentle when spoken aloud.
Shanti
“Peace, tranquillity”
Shanti means peace or tranquillity in Sanskrit. It is a profoundly spiritual name, often chanted three times in Hindu prayers for universal peace of mind, speech, and body. The word appears throughout the Upanishads and Vedic literature as an invocation of serenity and the cessation of suffering.
Shanvi
“Auspicious, goddess of benevolence, gracious”
Shanvi is a modern Sanskrit-derived name meaning 'goddess of benevolence', 'the auspicious one', or one associated with Goddess Parvati's gracious aspect. The name reflects qualities of compassion, beauty, and divine grace. It is considered a highly auspicious name for girls in Hindu tradition.
Shaohua
“Youthful splendour”
Shaohua is a Chinese masculine name formed from the characters for young or youthful and splendid or magnificent. Together they evoke the brilliant energy of youth, full of promise, beauty, and vitality. The name carries a poetic quality characteristic of Chinese naming traditions, in which the name chosen for a child expresses the family's hopes and aspirations. Shaohua suggests a child who will embody the magnificence of their best years and whose prime will be a time of exceptional achievement and beauty.
Shaoyu
“Carrying on a legacy”
Shaoyu (绍宇) often combines 绍 (shào), meaning 'to carry on' or 'to continue a legacy,' with 宇 (yǔ), meaning 'universe,' 'space,' or 'bearing.' The name expresses the hope that the bearer will carry on a great legacy and possess a bearing as vast as the universe itself.
Sharif
“Noble, honourable”
Sharif derives from Arabic meaning noble, honourable, or of high birth. In Islamic tradition, a Sharif (plural Ashraf) is a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, specifically through his daughter Fatima and grandson Hasan. Families claiming Sharifian descent have historically held positions of religious and political authority across the Muslim world, from the Sharifate of Mecca to the royal houses of Morocco and Jordan. The name thus conveys both personal nobility of character and the highest possible ancestral lineage in Islamic terms.
Sharona
“Of the fertile plain of Sharon”
Sharona is a feminine Hebrew name derived from 'Sharon,' referring to the fertile coastal plain of ancient Israel known as the Plain of Sharon. It means 'a plain' or 'flat land,' but is associated with beauty and abundance through the biblical Rose of Sharon.
Shatha
“Fragrance, pleasant scent”
Shatha means 'fragrance,' 'pleasant scent,' or 'aroma' in Arabic, evoking the delicate and lingering quality of a beautiful perfume. The name suggests a person whose presence is uplifting, pleasant, and memorable, like a sweet fragrance that remains long after one has passed. It is a poetic name widely used in Arabic literature and song.
Shaul
“Asked for, prayed for”
Shaul is the Hebrew form of Saul, derived from the root 'sha'al' meaning 'asked for' or 'prayed for.' It conveys the sense of a long-desired or petitioned gift.
Shaurya
“Bravery, valour”
Shaurya is a Sanskrit-derived name meaning bravery or valour, embodying the qualities of courage and heroism. It is a name that speaks to the warrior spirit, suggesting someone who faces challenges with fearless determination. The name has a strong, resonant sound that matches its powerful meaning.
Shaw
“Dweller by a thicket”
Shaw began as an English topographic surname before transitioning into use as a given name. It carries a strong, grounded quality evoking the natural landscape of the English countryside. Its single-syllable simplicity gives it a modern, confident feel that has made it appealing as a first name.
Shay
“Admirable, hawk-like brightness”
Shay is a lively, gender-neutral name that has been embraced across English-speaking cultures. It gained traction as a standalone name in the late 20th century, valued for its breezy, informal charm. Its phonetic simplicity makes it easy to pronounce and remember across different languages and dialects.
Shaya
“God is salvation”
Shaya is a Yiddish-Hebrew diminutive of Yeshaya (Isaiah), meaning 'God is salvation' or 'salvation of the Lord.' It is an affectionate short form widely used in Ashkenazi Jewish communities.
Shayla
“Bright, graceful fairy palace”
Shayla emerged as a distinctly modern English name in the latter half of the 20th century, reflecting a trend of creating melodic, feminine names through inventive combinations. It carries a lyrical, flowing quality that has made it a favourite in American English-speaking communities. The name strikes a balance between familiar sounds and an original identity.
Shayma
“One with a beauty mark”
Shayma derives from the Arabic root meaning one who bears a beauty mark or birthmark, suggesting that a distinguishing feature is not a flaw but a mark of distinction. The name gained lasting historical significance as it was borne by Shayma bint al-Harith, the foster sister of the Prophet Muhammad. This historical connection gives the name deep religious and cultural resonance in Islamic tradition. The name is both poetic and meaningful, suggesting that individuality is a form of beauty.
Shea
“Hawk-like, fine”
Shea derives from the Irish surname O'Seaghdha, meaning descendant of the hawk-like one or the fine, admirable one. The name combines qualities of sharpness and elegance, suggesting both the keen perception of a hawk and the refinement of a person of admirable character. Its smooth, one-syllable sound gives it a naturally confident and modern feel.
Sheila
“Heavenly, blind”
Sheila is the anglicised form of Sile, the Irish version of Cecilia, which derives from the Latin Caecilius, related to the word for blind. The paradox of the name is that Saint Cecilia, its root, became the patron saint of music despite her association with blindness, suggesting inner sight and spiritual perception. In Ireland, Sheila became a widespread and beloved name through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In Australia it became so common as a generic term for a woman that it entered everyday slang.
Shelby
“Willow farm on the ledge”
Shelby transitioned from an English surname to a given name in the 19th century and has been used for both males and females, though it leaned strongly female in American usage from the 1980s onward. It gained widespread recognition through popular culture, most notably in the film 'Steel Magnolias'. The name carries a warm, Southern American charm alongside its Norse heritage.
Discover thousands of names in the app
Swipe through names, match with your partner, and find the perfect name together. Privacy-first, always.