Shaquille
Shaquille, Shaquill, or Shaquil is a given name, with Shaq being a common nickname. It is derived from the Arabic name Shakil.
- African American
Meaning & Origin of Shaquille
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Shaquille, Shaquill, or Shaquil is a given name, with Shaq being a common nickname. It is derived from the Arabic name Shakil.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- African American
The Story of Shaquille
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Shaquille as a girl name dates back to 1990, when 35 babies received it. 1993 was its biggest year on record, with 126 newborns named Shaquille — #1,325 in the national rankings. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 1995 (20 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 387 Shaquilles have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Shaquille as a boy name dates back to 1989, when 14 babies received it. 1993 was its biggest year on record, with 1,785 newborns named Shaquille — #181 in the national rankings. The 1990s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 83% of all recorded Shaquilles. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #4,975 among boy names with 20 births, falling sharply (-47%). In total, more than 6K Shaquilles have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Shaquille
Phonetically similar names — useful when Shaquille is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Chicle
- Shekel
- Sheqel
- Shackle
- Schakel
- Chuckle
- Shucking
- Shaky
- Jekyll
- Shockey
- Shacky
- Shiki
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shaquille
What does the name Shaquille mean?
What is the origin of the name Shaquille?
How popular is Shaquille in 2026?
When was Shaquille most popular?
In which U.S. states is Shaquille most popular?
Is Shaquille a unisex name?
What names go well with Shaquille?
About the name Shaquille
Shaquille is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1989 and has accumulated 6K births in the dataset. Shaquille's peak popularity came in 1993 when it ranked #181. Use the chart and map above to compare Shaquille's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1993 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "S" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.