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Shakira

Girl name · Arabic

Meaningthankful · Arabic

Shakira is an Arabic girl name meaning “thankful”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.

Did you know?

  • Hidden namesLook closely: Shakira has the name Akira hiding inside it.
  • Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Shakira would score 14 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
  • GenerationShakira peaked in 2002, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Shakira you'd meet today is about 23 years old.
  • Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Shakira would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 133,333 baby girls got the name in 2025.
  • HistoryShakira first shows up in US birth records in 1970, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 55 years since.
Baby lying on a pink blanket
hello, little Shakira

US births per million girls, 1970–2025

0145290197020002025

Similar names

Girl name: AmiraGirl name: MiraGirl name: KiraGirl name: KeiraUnisex name: ShaneUnisex name: Shawn
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Shakira

Shakira is a girl name of Arabic origin meaning “thankful”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It hit its peak in the 2000s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.

Origin:Arabic names

More Arabic girl names

Questions about the name Shakira

What does the name Shakira mean?

Shakira means “thankful” and comes from Arabic. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Tatenda (“we are thankful”), Tendai (“be thankful”), Thokozani (“be thankful”) and Tinotenda (“we are thankful”).

What is the origin of the name Shakira?

Shakira is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Eleanor (“possibly light”), Layla (“night”), Lyla (“night”) and Aaliyah (“exalted”).

Is Shakira a boy or girl name?

Shakira is a girl name. In 2025, 12 US girls were named Shakira.

How popular is the name Shakira?

Shakira ranked #8,362 for US girls in 2025, given to 12 babies. Its best year was 2002, when it reached #535. Over the last five years it has slipped 3,359 places.

What names are similar to Shakira?

If you like Shakira, you might also like Tatenda, Tendai, Thokozani and Tinotenda.

What should I know before naming my baby Shakira?

Shakira is an Arabic girl name meaning “thankful”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.