Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Shani
GirlSwahili, Hebrew· “marvelous (Swahili); scarlet (Hebrew)”
- Meaning
- marvelous (Swahili); scarlet (Hebrew)
- Origin
- Swahili, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- SHAH-nee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #12,980
- US babies 2025
- 7
- Best rank
- #665 (1969)
- Peak year
- 1969
Meaning and origin of Shani
Shani is a Swahili and Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “marvelous (Swahili); scarlet (Hebrew)”.
Shani has separate sources in Swahili and Hebrew. In Swahili it is often explained as "marvelous" or "wonderful," and in Hebrew shani means "scarlet," the color of the crimson thread mentioned in several biblical passages. It is said SHAH-nee. In Hindu astrology, Shani is also the name of the planet Saturn and its deity, which gives the name another association for families of South Asian background. Because the three sources are unrelated, the meaning depends on the family's own language.
Popularity over time
Shani first appears in US Social Security records in 1962. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 7 different years, starting in 1969. Its best national rank was #665 in 1969, the same year it reached its highest count of 223 babies. In 2025, 7 babies were named Shani, and it ranked #12,980 nationally. That is 75% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,265 in 1980, #2,567 in 2000, #3,740 in 2010, and #12,980 in 2025. Of the 4,525 US girls named Shani since records began, 32% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 920 babies. Since 2010, 305 more have been named Shani.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Corinna, Charla, Nicolle, Shiela, and Jeana.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Shani is usually pronounced SHAH-nee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with S and ends in “-ni”.
Middle names for Shani
A few middle names that flow with Shani: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Shani
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Lists that include Shani
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Shani mean?
Shani is a Swahili and Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “marvelous (Swahili); scarlet (Hebrew)”.
What is the origin of the name Shani?
Shani has Swahili and Hebrew roots. Shani has separate sources in Swahili and Hebrew.
Is Shani a popular name?
Not especially. Shani ranked #12,980 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Shani a boy or girl name?
Shani is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Shani?
Shani is usually pronounced SHAH-nee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings