Unisex name · peaked 1998

Shaye

A female given name transferred from the surname or from Irish, variant of Shay.

Every Shaye since 1951 — 2,862 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
0.030.050.080.118801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys
Rank 2025
#10,790
among girls
Babies in 2025
19
named Shaye
Peak year
1998
152 babies
All-time total
2,862
since 1951

The story of Shaye

Shaye is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #10,790 in 2025 with 9 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1951, 2,862 American babies have been named Shaye — about 76% girls and 24% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1998, when 152 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.

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 Shaye stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Shaye 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 9 #10,790 10 #8,145
2024 5 #17,321 13 #6,769
2023 14 #7,997 9 #8,813
2022 18 #6,675 8 #9,699
2021 12 #8,906 7 #10,612
2020 19 #6,290 14 #6,238
2019 10 #10,372 10 #8,119
2018 19 #6,488 10 #8,065
2017 9 #11,484 12 #7,033
2016 22 #5,958 5 #13,890
2015 30 #4,703 14 #6,260
2014 18 #6,946 10 #8,034
2013 31 #4,633 5 #13,753
2012 23 #5,867 11 #7,467
2011 28 #5,045 9 #8,655
2010 32 #4,588 15 #5,993
2009 39 #4,005 21 #4,718
2008 40 #3,999 15 #6,016
2007 36 #4,282 16 #5,637
2006 55 #3,083 9 #8,615
2005 50 #3,164 11 #7,028
2004 78 #2,260 17 #4,970
2003 63 #2,572 20 #4,254
2002 75 #2,221 16 #4,875
2001 85 #2,008 20 #4,094
2000 82 #2,033 23 #3,623
1995 58 #2,307 23 #3,084
1990 44 #2,686 12 #4,631
1985 28 #3,228 5 #7,423
1980 36 #2,642
1975 18 #3,746 6 #5,356
1970 10 #5,342
1965 6 #6,400
1960 6 #6,279
1955
1950
1945
1940
1935
1930
1925
1920
1915
1910
1905
1900
1895
1890
1885
1880

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Shaye mean?

A female given name transferred from the surname or from Irish, variant of Shay.

How popular is the name Shaye in 2025?

Shaye ranked #10,790 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 9 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Shaye?

2,862 babies have been named Shaye in the United States since 1951, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shaye most popular?

Shaye peaked in 1998, when 152 newborns received the name.

Is Shaye a boy or girl name?

Shaye is used for both: about 76% of babies named Shaye have been girls and 24% boys.

Is the name Shaye rising or falling?

Shaye is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Shaye

Compare Shaye with similar names →