Declining since 1993, #2,884 for boys today.
Popularity of Shaquille since 1989
Babies named Shaquille per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 | 14 |
| 1990s | 387 | 4,814 |
| 2000s | 0 | 248 |
| 2010s | 0 | 466 |
| 2020s | 0 | 227 |
Meaning & origin
Shaquille is a modern American name that rose to prominence in the 1990s, driven largely by NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1989 and quickly climbed to its peak rank of 2884 (though its actual highest usage was in 1993, when it ranked much higher in popularity by count). Since 1993, its trajectory has been falling, as fewer parents have chosen the name each subsequent year. In 2025, the name had a frequency of approximately 1 in every 39723 newborns, reflecting its decline from the early 1990s peak. The states with the highest usage were Florida and New York, indicating a concentration in areas with large multicultural populations. Despite its Arabic linguistic roots via the name Shakir, Shaquille is chiefly an American coinage, shaped by the fame of a single athlete and the stylistic preferences of African American naming traditions.
Shaquille is an Americanized spelling of the Arabic name Shakir, which means 'thankful' or 'grateful,' but it has also been linked to the Arabic word 'shaqil' meaning 'handsome.' The name gained prominence in the United States due to basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal, born in 1972, who popularized the variant. Despite its Arabic roots, the name is now widely used in African American communities as a modern coinage influenced by similar-sounding names and the fame of O'Neal.
Where Shaquille is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Shaq, Shaquie, Quille
Sibling names for Shaquille
Names that share Shaquille's style, for a brother or sister.
