Shalini
- Gender
- Girl
- Say it
- SHAH-lee-nee
- Origin
- Sanskrit
Shalini is a girls' name of Sanskrit origin, meaning “modest, gentle”. Too few babies were given it in the latest year to rank.
What does Shalini mean?
Sanskrit: from shalini
“modest, gentle”
From Sanskrit shalini, meaning modest, calm or dignified; popular across India.
Is Shalini a girl's or a boy's name?
Shalini is a girls' name.
How popular is Shalini in the UK?
No girls in the UK were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 2001, with 11 girls.
Half of all the girls named Shalini in the UK since 1996 were born between 2000 and 2007. It was already well used in 1996, when the records begin, so earlier girls aren't counted.
Shalini in the UK, year by year
| Year | Girls | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3 | #5,983 |
| 2014 | 0 | – |
| 2013 | 0 | – |
| 2012 | 0 | – |
| 2011 | 1 | #7,717 |
| 2010 | 5 | #4,220 |
| 2009 | 6 | #3,603 |
| 2008 | 5 | #4,065 |
| 2007 | 9 | #2,543 |
| 2006 | 3 | #5,259 |
| 2005 | 5 | #3,543 |
| 2004 | 4 | #3,916 |
| 2003 | 11 | #1,831 |
| 2002 | 5 | #3,047 |
| 2001 | 11 | #1,723 |
| 2000 | 6 | #2,554 |
| 1999 | 4 | #3,374 |
| 1998 | 7 | #2,304 |
| 1997 | 5 | #2,896 |
| 1996 | 8 | #2,012 |
How popular is Shalini in the US?
No girls in the US were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 2000, with 29 girls. It first appears in the records in 1970.
Half of all the girls named Shalini in the US since 1880 were born between 1983 and 2004, the years shaded on the chart below.
Shalini in the US, year by year
| Year | Girls | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 | #13,448 |
| 2019 | 0 | – |
| 2018 | 6 | #13,788 |
| 2017 | 6 | #14,120 |
| 2016 | 7 | #12,871 |
| 2015 | 0 | – |
| 2014 | 9 | #10,949 |
| 2013 | 12 | #9,031 |
| 2012 | 8 | #12,193 |
| 2011 | 17 | #7,115 |
| 2010 | 15 | #7,877 |
| 2009 | 17 | #7,338 |
| 2008 | 18 | #7,069 |
| 2007 | 20 | #6,548 |
| 2006 | 27 | #5,085 |
| 2005 | 20 | #5,994 |
| 2004 | 24 | #5,204 |
| 2003 | 22 | #5,414 |
| 2002 | 17 | #6,386 |
| 2001 | 27 | #4,442 |
| 2000 | 29 | #4,180 |
| 1999 | 22 | #4,864 |
| 1998 | 14 | #6,714 |
| 1997 | 20 | #5,006 |
| 1996 | 21 | #4,734 |
| 1995 | 19 | #5,014 |
| 1994 | 19 | #5,011 |
| 1993 | 21 | #4,665 |
| 1992 | 10 | #8,057 |
| 1991 | 15 | #5,943 |
| 1990 | 14 | #6,125 |
| 1989 | 23 | #4,115 |
| 1988 | 15 | #5,316 |
| 1987 | 10 | #6,783 |
| 1986 | 13 | #5,456 |
| 1985 | 21 | #3,851 |
| 1984 | 13 | #5,221 |
| 1983 | 15 | #4,685 |
| 1982 | 20 | #3,897 |
| 1981 | 15 | #4,745 |
| 1980 | 20 | #3,852 |
| 1979 | 25 | #3,236 |
| 1978 | 20 | #3,637 |
| 1977 | 12 | #5,212 |
| 1976 | 15 | #4,152 |
| 1975 | 19 | #3,513 |
| 1974 | 10 | #5,359 |
| 1973 | 12 | #4,585 |
| 1972 | 7 | #6,556 |
| 1971 | 7 | #6,617 |
| 1970 | 10 | #5,060 |
Names like Shalini
Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.
Sanvi Vaishnavi Avani Saanvi Tanvi Dhriti Yashvi Aadhini Dhanvi Priya Kashvi Sukhmani
Names related to Shalini
Salina Shaelyn Shaylin Shaylyn Shailyn Shailene Shalynn Shaylen
More Sanskrit names
Maya Bodhi Arya Lila Arjun Aarav Rohan Kali Aryan Opal Arjan Vihaan Aadhya Avyaan Ishaan Siya
Sources
Figures from Baby names in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics), Babies' first names (National Records of Scotland), Baby names (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency) and Popular Baby Names (US Social Security Administration). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.
To cite this page: Nameling, “Shalini: name meaning, origin and popularity”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/shalini, updated 20 October 2026.