Shay Name Meaning, Popularity and Origins
Origin:
Irish
Gender Distribution:
39% Masculine / 61% Feminine
Meaning:
Shay means 'admirable' or 'hawk-like' and can also mean 'gift'.
Meaning of the Name Shay
Shay is a unisex name of Irish origin. It derives from the Gaelic word 'séaghdha', which means 'admirable' or 'hawk-like'. The name has a strong and assertive meaning, symbolizing power and beauty. In Irish mythology, hawks were seen as powerful birds with great vision, and the name Shay reflects these qualities. It can also be a variant of the Hebrew name 'Shai', which means 'gift'.
Popularity of the Name Shay
The popularity for the name Shay peaked in popularity in the year 2021 with 299 births, which ranked number 1,708 out of 28,927 unique names for that year. Shay had the most female births in 2021 with 299, which ranked number 899 out of 17,628 female names for that year, and had the most male births in 1991 with 154, which ranked number 833 out of 9,647 male names for that year. The number of births for the name Shay has increased sharply over the last ten years from 145 births to 401 births, an increase of 176.55%. Among males, Shay has increased sharply in popularity over the last ten years from 61 births to 102 births, an increase of 67.21%. Among females, Shay has increased sharply in popularity over the last ten years from 84 births to 299 births, an increase of 255.95%.
Nationwide Popularity of Shay
- 20 Year Trend of Shay: 86.51%
- 10 Year Trend of Shay: 176.55%
- 10 Year Male Trend of Shay: 67.21%
- 10 Year Female Trend of Shay: 255.95%
Popularity of Shay by State
For males, Shay was most popular in Western states with 16 births in the region. It was most commonly seen in CA, with 16 male births. Among females, Shay was most popular in Midwestern states with 78 births in the region. It was most commonly used in CA, with 42 female births. See below for a full state by state breakdown of the name Shay. States with less than five births recorded will not be shown.
| State | Male Births | Male Gender Rank | Female Births | Female Gender Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZ | < 5 | N/A | 6 | 920 |
| CA | 16 | 1233 | 42 | 775 |
| CO | < 5 | N/A | 6 | 765 |
| CT | < 5 | N/A | 8 | 384 |
| FL | 7 | 1452 | 8 | 1533 |
| IA | < 5 | N/A | 7 | 436 |
| IL | 8 | 953 | 18 | 574 |
| IN | < 5 | N/A | 5 | 1041 |
| MA | < 5 | N/A | 12 | 442 |
| MI | 5 | 1104 | 18 | 467 |
| MN | < 5 | N/A | 9 | 547 |
| MO | < 5 | N/A | 7 | 723 |
| NC | < 5 | N/A | 5 | 1436 |
| NJ | < 5 | N/A | 14 | 580 |
| NV | < 5 | N/A | 5 | 502 |
| NY | 8 | 1308 | 27 | 623 |
| OH | < 5 | N/A | 6 | 1240 |
| OK | < 5 | N/A | 5 | 703 |
| OR | < 5 | N/A | 5 | 624 |
| PA | 8 | 898 | 9 | 955 |
| TX | 6 | 2311 | 16 | 1493 |
| VA | 5 | 1074 | 6 | 1063 |
| WA | < 5 | N/A | 11 | 586 |
| WI | < 5 | N/A | 8 | 579 |
2024 Popularity Projections for Shay
- Total Births of Shay: 444 (10.71%)
- Male Births of Shay: 107 (5.28%)
- Female Births of Shay: 339 (13.54%)
Given the upward trend of Shay over the last 10 years, we expect this to continue in 2024 with roughly a 10.71% increase in total births, for a total of 444 births in 2024. Male births for Shay have been increasing over the past decade, so we anticipate roughly 107 male births in 2024, an increase of 5.28%. For Females, births for Shay have been increasing over the past 10 years, and we expect roughly 339 female births in 2024, an increase of 13.54%.