Shai is a unisex name with a rare feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Shai means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Shai across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Shai has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Shai is a unisex name of Hebrew origin meaning “gift”. A unisex Hebrew name also used as a short form of Yishai (Jesse).
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 4,340 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 585 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 3 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Shai per year, United States (1968 to 2025). United States peaked in 2023 (340/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2010 (31/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2013 (3/yr).
Shai is an uncommon baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2023, when it ranked #1,567 nationally (given to 354 babies that year).
Shea · Shay · Shae · Shia · Shaye · Shaya · Chi · Chau
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