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Shabana

Girl name · 54 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Shabana: 54 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 8 births in 1981.

Shabana has Persian and Urdu roots, deriving from *shab* meaning “night,” and is often interpreted as “belonging to the night” or “night blossom”; it also appears in Arabic contexts with a similar poetic feel. One of its most famous bearers is the acclaimed Indian actress and social activist Shabana Azmi, a towering figure in parallel cinema. Another notable Shabana is the British Labour politician Shabana Mahmood, who has served as Shadow Secretary of State. While no major places bear the name directly, it shares its etymological night theme with Persian place names like Shabestar. A popular variant is Shabannah, though in South Asian communities the name is cherished for its lyrical, nocturnal elegance.