Shay

At a Glance: Name: Shay – Origin: Irish (surname, Ó Séaghdha) – Gender: used for both boys and girls

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Shay comes from the Irish surname Ó Séaghdha. You might spot it on some baby-name or tree-name lists described as meaning "shay" or "shea tree," but that mixes it up with the unrelated African shea tree, whose name traces to Bambara/Malinke — Shay's own roots are in that Irish surname.

Meaning & Origin of Shay

Origin: Irish (surname, Ó Séaghdha).

A common claim: Sometimes glossed on tree-name/baby-name lists as meaning 'shay/shea tree' Actually: This confuses the name with the unrelated African shea tree, whose name comes from Bambara/Malinke; Shay actually derives from the Irish surname Ó Séaghdha.

Source: Wiktionary.

Popularity of Shay

SSA records going back to 1932 show Shay's biggest year was 1991, when it ranked #837 with 154 babies; by 2024 it had slipped to #1158, given to 208 babies.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1932–2024.

Make Shay Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Shay, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

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• Devyn
• Jamal
• Kenan
• Kodi
• Kristian

FAQ

What does the name Shay mean?

Sometimes glossed on tree-name/baby-name lists as meaning ‘shay/shea tree’ This confuses the name with the unrelated African shea tree, whose name comes from Bambara/Malinke; Shay actually derives from the Irish surname Ó Séaghdha.

Is Shay a popular name right now?

Shay peaked at #837 in 1991 and is ranked #1158 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1932–2024.)

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