Shira
Girl name · #2306 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Shira? In official American birth records, Shira has been tracked continuously since 1941, giving it 84 years of documented American history.
Shira is currently the #2306 girl name in the United States — 79 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2408, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 22,785 girls born in 2025 was named Shira.
Babies named Shira per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 84-year story
Shira first appears in the Social Security records in 1941, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2009, when 159 girls were named Shira — good for #1463 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Shira against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Shira in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Shira is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Shira will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Shira is most common
State-level data for Shira is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Shira
Statistically, parents drawn to Shira tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Saira, Indira, Yadira, Shyla, and Maira.
SairaIndiraYadiraShylaMairaYajairaSabinaLeana
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Shira | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 79 | #2298 |
| 2024 | 79 | #2327 |
| 2023 | 62 | #2757 |
| 2022 | 70 | #2530 |
| 2021 | 75 | #2384 |
| 2020 | 65 | #2597 |
| 2019 | 70 | #2508 |
| 2018 | 67 | #2584 |
| 2017 | 70 | #2530 |
| 2016 | 90 | #2149 |
| 2015 | 76 | #2408 |
| 2014 | 97 | #2027 |
| 2013 | 96 | #2020 |
| 2012 | 78 | #2373 |
| 2011 | 92 | #2088 |
| 2010 | 125 | #1688 |
| 2009 | 159 | #1463 |
| 2008 | 151 | #1531 |
| 2007 | 121 | #1770 |
| 2006 | 139 | #1560 |
| 2005 | 139 | #1500 |
| 2004 | 137 | #1470 |
| 2003 | 111 | #1710 |
| 2002 | 119 | #1564 |
| 2001 | 134 | #1411 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Shira?
In official American birth records, the name Shira first appeared in 1941 (over 84 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 84 years.
Is Shira a popular girl name?
Shira ranked #2306 among girls in 2025 with 79 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2408.
When was the name Shira most popular?
Shira peaked in 2009, when 159 American girls received the name (ranked #1463 that year). Since 2009 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Shira?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 22,785 newborn American girls was named Shira. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.