Shay is a unisex name with a modern feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Shay means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Shay across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Shay has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Shay is a unisex name of Irish (Gaelic) origin meaning “stately, admirable”. A short form of Shea or Seamus.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 13,251 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 5,494 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 936 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 532 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 2,024 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 Shay per year, United States (1932 to 2025). United States peaked in 2021 (409/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2010 (349/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2022 (155/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2012 (71/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2009 (34/yr).
Shay is an uncommon baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2021, when it ranked #1,361 nationally (given to 583 babies that year).
Shea · Chaya · Shae · Shai · Shia · Shaye · Shaya · Chau
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