Shay
Anglicized form of the Irish Seaghdha, a name explained as "hawk-like" or "admirable." It also serves as a short form of Shane and Shayla.
Shay in 2025
Shay was given to 261 babies in the United States in 2025 — 77 boys and 184 girls, making it the 1,865th most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 12,702 babies born.
The history of Shay
Shay reached its highest point in 2021, when 409 babies were given the name, ranking 1,362nd that year. Its best-ever ranking was 1,245th, in 1974.
Across the 94 years of records since 1932, 13,251 babies have been named Shay. Half of them were born before 1999, which places the name's centre of gravity with Generation Z.
Shay by decade
| Decade | Babies named Shay | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 | 8,197 |
| 1950s | 70 | 4,179 |
| 1960s | 451 | 1,925 |
| 1970s | 1,812 | 1,245 |
| 1980s | 1,913 | 1,310 |
| 1990s | 2,595 | 1,297 |
| 2000s | 2,176 | 1,576 |
| 2010s | 2,141 | 1,772 |
| 2020s | 2,088 | 1,362 |
Where Shay is heading
Shay has risen 12% over the past decade, from 234 babies in 2015 to 261 in 2025.
Names like Shay
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Shay.