Shaniqua

Girl name

Shaniqua has been given to 5,117 babies in the U.S. since 1971. It peaked in 1991.

Meaning & origin /ʃəˈniːkwə/

Can this([//en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Wiktionary:Etymology_scriptorium/2026/August&action=edit&section=new&preload=Template:rfv-etymology/preload&preloadtitle=%5B%5B%23rfv-etymology-notice-en%7c%5D%5D +]) etymology be sourced?) Popularized in the 1970s among African Americans, possibly influenced by Swahili shani (“novelty”) or Welsh Siân (Joanna, "God is gracious"); compare other names starting with Shan- like Shanice, Shanika, Shanita.

Origin: coinages

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025

Hover or tap the chart to read any year.

Total babies

5,117

Peak year

1991 (861 babies)

Rank in 2025

Below top 1000

First recorded

1971

10-year trend

New / returning

Gender split

All girls

Spellings & variants

Names one letter away from Shaniqua — alternate spellings parents actually use.

1,874 babies since 1971

1,689 babies since 1970

Names with a similar vibe

Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Shaniqua.

5,106 babies since 1963

5,095 babies since 1921

5,163 babies since 1889

5,164 babies since 1889

5,070 babies since 1937

5,169 babies since 1978

5,203 babies since 1970

5,223 babies since 1963

FAQ

How popular is the name Shaniqua?

Shaniqua has been given to 5,117 babies in the U.S. since 1971. It ranked below the top 1000 in 2025.

When did the name Shaniqua peak?

Shaniqua peaked in 1991, when 861 babies were given the name.

Is Shaniqua a girl or boy name?

Shaniqua is primarily a girl name (100% of babies named Shaniqua are girls).

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