Shah
Every Shah since 1972 — 440 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Shah
Shah is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #7,121 in 2025 with 12 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1972, 440 American babies have been named Shah. Its peak came in 2009, when 22 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Shah stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Shah year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 12 | #7,121 |
| 2024 | — | — | 15 | #6,142 |
| 2023 | — | — | 14 | #6,461 |
| 2022 | — | — | 11 | #7,680 |
| 2021 | — | — | 14 | #6,289 |
| 2020 | — | — | 13 | #6,567 |
| 2019 | — | — | 7 | #10,630 |
| 2018 | — | — | 11 | #7,540 |
| 2017 | — | — | 9 | #8,727 |
| 2016 | — | — | 10 | #8,068 |
| 2015 | 5 | #18,706 | 11 | #7,439 |
| 2014 | — | — | 11 | #7,468 |
| 2013 | — | — | 16 | #5,613 |
| 2012 | — | — | 14 | #6,255 |
| 2011 | — | — | 11 | #7,423 |
| 2010 | — | — | 8 | #9,536 |
| 2009 | — | — | 22 | #4,568 |
| 2008 | — | — | 5 | #14,277 |
| 2007 | — | — | 11 | #7,500 |
| 2006 | — | — | 6 | #11,824 |
| 2005 | — | — | 12 | #6,560 |
| 2004 | — | — | 11 | #6,903 |
| 2003 | — | — | 6 | #10,658 |
| 2002 | — | — | 13 | #5,667 |
| 2001 | — | — | 12 | #5,955 |
| 2000 | — | — | 8 | #8,088 |
| 1995 | — | — | 10 | #5,839 |
| 1990 | — | — | 5 | #9,283 |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | 6 | #6,121 |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Shah
- Shah Jahan Politician · 1592–1666
- Shah Rukh Politician · 1377–1447
- Shah Rukh Khan Actor · b. 1965
- Shah Waliullah Dehlawi Philosopher · 1703–1762
- Shah Alam II Politician · 1728–1806
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Shah in 2025?
Shah ranked #7,121 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 12 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Shah?
440 babies have been named Shah in the United States since 1972, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Shah most popular?
Shah peaked in 2009, when 22 newborns received the name.
Is Shah a boy or girl name?
Shah is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 98% of babies with the name.
Is the name Shah rising or falling?
Shah is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Shah?
Well-known people named Shah include Shah Jahan (politician), Shah Rukh (politician), Shah Rukh Khan (actor).