Shay

Meaning of Shay

It's a form of the name Shea, which means "admirable" or "hawk-like."

Shay has Irish roots — browse every Irish baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Shay

After ranking as high as #901 in 2021, Shay has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Shay

• Shay Mitchell
  Actress, "Pretty Little Liars"
• Shay Mooney
  Country singer, Dan + Shay
• Shay Carl
  YouTuber and entertainer
• Shay Johnson
  Reality TV personality
• Shay Given
  Former professional soccer player

More Irish names

Questions about the name Shay

What does the name Shay mean?

Shay means it's a form of the name shea, which means "admirable" or "hawk-like.", and it comes from Irish origins.

Is Shay a boy's or a girl's name?

Shay is most commonly used as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Shay?

Shay did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Shay most popular?

Shay peaked at #901 in 2021.