Given name & surname · also African
Shani
“a marvelous woman”·“a crimson-red color”
Shani is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a marvelous woman” (African) and “a crimson-red color” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a marvelous woman” (African) and “a crimson-red color” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with African and Hebrew naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1962. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Shani through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,542
- 17 boys · 4,525 girls
- Most popular year
- 1969
- 223 babies
- 2025
- 7
- #12,980 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- 0%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 7 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 12,980 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was virtually unchanged in 2021–2025 compared with 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 223 in 1969. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,439 as a first name in 2020; 278 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Shani’s family of names
Shani has a related form in Shanee. Shani has a related form in Shanea. Shani has a related form in Shanie.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 12
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Shaneavariant
- Shaneevariant
- Shaneyvariant
- Shanievariant
- Shanneevariant
- Shannyvariant
- Shannievariant
- Shannivariant
Show 4 moreShow fewer
People named Shani
- Shani DavisAmerican speed skaterborn 1982
- Shani TarashajSwiss association football playerborn 1995
- Shani LoukGerman-Israeli tattoo artist who was killed in the October 7 attacks2001–2023
- Shani BakanovIsraeli rhythmic gymnastborn 2006
- Shani WallisEnglish-American actressborn 1933
- Shani BoianjiuIsraeli writerborn 1987
- Shani MootooCanadian artist (born 1957)
- Shani BlochIsraeli cyclistborn 1979
- Shani DilukaMonegasque classical pianistborn 1976
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Shani, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Jodi
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Jodie
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Tommi
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2% boys · 98% girls
Pollyanna
Pollyanna is a feminine given name from Hebrew.
>99% girls