Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Shay
UnisexIrish· “hawklike; admirable”
- Meaning
- hawklike; admirable
- Origin
- Irish
- Pronunciation
- SHAY
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #1,227
- US babies 2025
- 184
- Best rank
- #894 (1971)
- Peak year
- 2022
Meaning and origin of Shay
Shay is an Irish name that is usually said to mean “hawklike; admirable”.
Shay comes mainly from the Irish surname Ó Séaghdha, descendant of Séaghdha, a personal name usually explained as hawklike or admirable. In English it is also spelled Shea, and in Hebrew a similar-sounding word, shai, means gift, which gives the name a second, independent source. Shay is used for both boys and girls. It has a soft, breezy sound and a friendly, modern feel. As a short name, it works well as a first or middle name and pairs easily with longer names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Shea.
Popularity over time
Shay first appears in US Social Security records in 1953. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 7 different years, starting in 1970. Its best national rank was #894 in 1971, and the most babies received it in 2022, when 301 were named Shay. In 2025, 184 babies were named Shay, and it ranked #1,227 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #1,062 in 1980, #1,252 in 2000, #1,828 in 2010, and #1,227 in 2025. Of the 8,227 US girls named Shay since records began, 19% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 1,449 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Austyn, Artemis, Jireh, Ellison, and Yael.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Shay ranked highest in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Massachusetts.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | #643 | 16 |
| Minnesota | #721 | 7 |
| Massachusetts | #753 | 7 |
| Ohio | #953 | 10 |
| New Jersey | #1020 | 7 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Shay is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 68% of US babies named Shay were girls and 32% were boys.
Shay is usually pronounced SHAY, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with S and ends in “-ay”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Shea.
Middle names for Shay
A few middle names that flow with Shay: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Shay
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Lists that include Shay
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Shay mean?
Shay is an Irish name that is usually said to mean “hawklike; admirable”.
What is the origin of the name Shay?
Shay has Irish roots. Shay comes mainly from the Irish surname Ó Séaghdha, descendant of Séaghdha, a personal name usually explained as hawklike or admirable.
Is Shay a popular name?
Not especially. Shay ranked #1,227 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Shay a boy or girl name?
Shay is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 68% of US babies named Shay were girls and 32% were boys.
How do you pronounce Shay?
Shay is usually pronounced SHAY. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings