Beautiful, first ray of the sun, or God is gracious
Shanaiya is a modern name with multiple possible roots. It is often used in South Asian communities as a variation of Shanya or Shanaya, meaning 'first ray of the sun,' but it is also frequently interpreted as a creative variant of Shania, an Ojibwa name meaning 'on my way,' or a stylized form of Jane.
Less common today
Shanaiya isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #9,555 in 2003.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
Indian actress and social media personality
