Shaniqua is a female given name in the English language, originating in the African-American community, gaining popularity beginning in the 1970s and peaking in the early 1990s.^[1][2]

It is often given as the prototypical example of a ghetto name, names likely to belong to low-income African-Americans.^[3][4][5] It has been used in racism-related incidents to symbolize black women.^[6][7]

The name was the namesake of the 2016 documentary Searching for Shaniqua, directed by an Old Dominion University English language professor.^[1] According to Vibe Magazine journalist Sheniqua Golding, the documentary was well-received, exploring the stereotypes surrounding this name often given to black children and the difficulties faced by those bearing the name. It won the 2016 HBO Best Documentary at Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival.^[8]

• Linda Miles (born 1978), American professional wrestler who went by this name mononymously
• Shaniqua Okwok, British actress
• Sheniqua Ferguson (born 1989), Bahamian sprinter
• Sheniqua Thomas (born 1998), Barbadian netball player
• Chamique Holdsclaw (born 1977), American WNBA player

• Shaniqua (song), a hip-hop song bearing the name but unrelated to its connotation which achieved minor commercial success in the early 2000s.