Shaka, of Zulu origin, translates to 'warrior' or 'strong-willed.' It gained prominence through Shaka kaSenzangakhona, the great warrior king who unified and expanded the Zulu Empire in the early 19th century. The name is associated with power, leadership, and resilience.
The name Shaka experienced peaks in popularity from the late 1970s to the early 1980s, with a high of 39 births in 1987. However, it has since declined, with recent years showing fewer than 20 births each year, and as low as 5 births in some years. Overall, there have been a total of 680 recorded births for the name Shaka since 1970.