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Shalini
How to Pronounce Shalini
Pronounced shah-LEE-nee /ʃəˈlini/Medium
Meaning: Shalini is a Sanskrit girls' name usually translated 'modest', 'well-behaved' or 'gracious'. Widely used across India, it appeared in American records chiefly through Indian-American families. It is a genuine heritage name with a clear, well-attested meaning rather than a coinage.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Shalini is a Sanskrit girls' name generally translated 'modest', 'well-behaved' or 'gracious'. It is common and long-established in India, and its presence in American data reflects the growth of Indian-American communities in the later twentieth century. Unlike many names in this rare tier, it has a clear, documented heritage meaning.
Shalini was always uncommon in the United States, peaking around 2000 at about thirty girls a year and appearing steadily into the 2020s. It reads as a heritage name kept alive within Indian-American families rather than a passing trend, and it remains current in that community.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Shalini mean?
Shalini is a Sanskrit girls' name meaning 'modest', 'well-behaved' or 'gracious'.
How do you pronounce Shalini?
It is said shah-LEE-nee /ʃəˈlini/, three syllables stressed on the second.
Is Shalini a boy or girl name?
Shalini is used as a girl's name.
How popular is the name Shalini?
Shalini has always been uncommon in the United States, carried mainly by Indian-American families.