Shakila

Meaning of Shakila

Shakila, pronounced shah-KEE-lah (/ʃɑːˈkiːlə/), is a feminine name of Persian provenance that descends from the adjective shakīl (شكيل), “well-formed, elegant, beautiful,” a term ultimately built on the Semitic root sh-k-l denoting “shape” or “figure.” In Persian and classical Arabic verse the word was frequently employed to praise aesthetic harmony, and that literary heritage still colors contemporary associations of the name with poise and refined beauty rather than overt ornamentation. Carried by cultural exchange into South Asia and the broader Anglophone world—most visibly through the mid-century Indian film actress Shakila and the Afghan-American vocalist of the same name—the name entered United States birth records in the mid-1970s, briefly cresting at rank 729 in 1978 before settling into modest but steady use through 2011. Its measured popularity, coupled with its transparent etymology and phonetic clarity, lends Shakila an understated distinction: it signals cosmopolitan awareness while remaining linguistically accessible, providing prospective parents with a choice that is both historically grounded and gently resonant with ideals of symmetry and grace.

Pronunciation

Persian

• Pronunced as shah-KEE-lah (/ʃɑːˈkiːlə/)

• Shanaya
• Shakira
• Shamira
• Shaila
• Shakina
• Shamina
• Shalini