How popular is the baby name Shay in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Shay.

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Popularity of the baby name Shay


Posts that mention the name Shay

Popular baby names in Scotland (UK), 2012

Flag of the United Kingdom
Flag of the United Kingdom

The most popular baby names in Scotland were announced last week.

According to the General Register Office, the preliminary winners were Jack for boys and Sophie for girls. Jack has been #1 for five years in a row, and Sophie for eight years in a row.

Here are Scotland’s top 20 girl names and top 20 boy names of January-November, 2012:

Baby Girl NamesBaby Boy Names
1. Sophie
2. Emily
3. Olivia
4. Ava
5. Lucy
6. Isla
7. Lily
8. Jessica
9. Amelia
10. Mia
11. Millie
12. Eva
13. Ellie
14. Chloe
15. Freya
16. Sophia
17. Grace
18. Emma
19. Hannah
20. Holly		1. Jack
2. Lewis
3. Riley
4. James
5. Logan
6. Daniel
7. Ethan
8. Harry
9. Alexander
10. Oliver
11. Max
12. Tyler
13. Aaron & Charlie [tie]
15. Adam
16. Finlay
17. Alfie
18. Mason
19. Ryan
20. Liam & Lucas [tie]

Some of the names that increased in popularity from 2011 to 2012:

Lola (up 24 places to #63)
Mollie (up 24 places to #68)
Amelia (up 20 places to #9)
Orla (up 19 places to #36)
Hollie (up 18 places to #39)
Georgia (up 13 places to #58)
Lexi (up 12 places to #38)
Lacey (up 12 places to #41)
Poppy (up 11 places to #34)		Harris (up 20 places to #29)
Harrison (up 20 places to #53)
Tyler (up 20 places to #12)
Brodie (up 17 places to #54)
Max (up 15 places to #11)
Mason (up 13 places to #18)
Finn (up 13 places to #66)
Riley (up 11 places to #3)

New to the top 100 are Bella, Darcy, Emelia, Lois, Scarlett and Willow (for girls) and Alex, Blake, Calvin, George, Olly, Sebastian, Shay and Zac (for boys).

Among the names moving downward are Abigail, Chloe, Jasmine and Phoebe (for girls) and Aiden, Jayden and Mohammed for boys. (Aiden is down 16 places to #36; Jayden down 10 places to #40.)

To compare, here’s last year’s post on the top baby names in Scotland.

Scotland’s official rankings will be out after the year ends.

Sources: Jack and Sophie are Scotland’s top baby names, Jack and Sophie top Scots baby names list in 2012, Scotland’s favourite baby names revealed

Image: Adapted from Flag of the United Kingdom (public domain)

Popular baby names in Ireland, 2010

Flag of Ireland
Flag of Ireland

Ireland recently released baby name data for 2010. Here are the top ten boy names and top ten girl names of last year (plus parenthetical comparisons to 2009 rankings).

Boy NamesGirl Names
1. Jack (same)
2. Sean (same)
3. Daniel (same)
4. James (up from 5th)
5. Conor (down from 4th)
6. Ryan (same)
7. Adam (same)
8. Alex (up from 9th)
9. Luke (up from 10th)
10. Dylan (up from 11th)		1. Sophie (same)
2. Emily (up from 6th)
3. Emma (same)
4. Sarah (same)
5. Lucy (up from 8th)
6. Ava (down from 2nd)
7. Grace (down from 5th)
8. Chloe (up from 10th)
9. Katie (down from 7th)
10. Aoife (down from 9th)

The one name that fell out of the boys’ top ten is Michael (now 12th).

The top 100 lists have seven new entries overall — four boy names (Tyler, Sebastian, Daithí, Alfie) and three girl names (Lilly, Sofia, Lena).

The boy names that saw the greatest popularity increases from 2009 to 2010 in terms of rank were Tyler, Sebastian, Jacob, Daithí* and Shay, and in terms of number were Noah, Ethan, Charlie, Harry and Jake.

The girl names that saw the greatest popularity increases from 2009 to 2010 in terms of rank were Alicia, Sofia, Lena, Lilly and Daisy, and in terms of number were Emily, Saoirse, Olivia, Sophia and Lucy.

*Daithí, pronounced DAH-hee, is a form of Dáithí, which is thought to mean “swift” in Irish Gaelic. The sudden interest in the name may have been sparked by the TV appearances of young Irish fiddler Daithí Ó Drónaí, who was on The All Ireland Talent Show in 2009 and Must Be The Music in 2010.

Sources: CSO, Jack, Sophie top baby names in 2010, Jack and Sophie, you’re top of the roll-call

Image: Adapted from Flag of Ireland (public domain)

Girl names beyond the top 1,000 of 2010

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Have you seen any of the most popular baby girl names beyond the top 1,000 yet? If not, here they are — down to the names that were given to 100 babies each last year. The 1,000th most popular girl name was Dania, given to 249 babies, and after Dania comes…

  • 249: Yadira [tied with Dania]
  • 248: Charlize, Estella, Jacey, Sariyah, Sky, Sloan, Tia, Yuliana
  • 247: Tanya
  • 246: Amaris, Desirae, Frida, Kaila
  • 245: Braylee, Essence, Karley, Kianna
  • 244: none
  • 243: Abrielle, Annette, Valery
  • 242: Alaya, Rory, Samiyah, Sanai
  • 241: Delia
  • 240: Blake, Chasity, Izabelle, Lillyana, Nahla, Shaila
  • 239: Cambria, Jana, Kaylah
  • 238: Dalilah, Evalyn, Renata
  • 237: Coraline, Jessa, Kaley, Kensley
  • 236: Brittney, Miya, Roxanne
  • 235: Annabell, Ashtyn, Dorothy, Giavanna, Janice
  • 234: Aya, Calista, Cierra, Julieta, Rivka, Saanvi, Samira
  • 233: Monserrat
  • 232: Aliah, Jaslyn, Makaila
  • 231: Areli, Bentley, Gracyn
  • 230: Blakely, Brissa, Iyana, Iyanna, Karis, Laurel, Leticia, Maryjane, Noor
  • 229: Bryn, Celine, Emory, Kayley, Kendyl, Leigha, Mariela, Taya
  • 228: Annalee, Jersey, Magdalena, Raylee, Sofie, Taniya
  • 227: Kamari, Kyndal, Melinda, Tamara, Unique
  • 226: Amalia, Ashanti, Kailynn, Kristin
  • 225: Brookelynn, Gretchen, Jamiyah, Karleigh, Suri
  • 224: Ashly
  • 223: Kya, Vienna, Zaniya
  • 222: Blair, Hailie, Krista, Noa, Yasmine, Zahra
  • 221: Johana, Kamiyah
  • 220: Cayla, Dallas, Joelle, Malaysia, Zainab
  • 219: Lesley
  • 218: Christiana
  • 217: Audrianna, Bayleigh, Elissa, Susana, Winter
  • 216: Lyra, Promise
  • 215: Dayanara, Emmalynn, Lucero, Selina
  • 214: Ashleigh, Keely, Nova, Nyah
  • 213: Harlee, Taniyah
  • 212: Abbygail, Keeley, Shaniyah
  • 211: Abigayle, Analise, Elliot, Jaleah, Nalani, Sally, Shyann, Temperance
  • 210: Cristal, Kori
  • 209: Adison, Aurelia, Cassie, Lianna
  • 208: Annaliese, Gillian, Landry, Milana, Rhea, Vivien
  • 207: Caleigh, Darlene, Emani, Geraldine, Gina, Luisa, Marian, Rileigh, Tiara
  • 206: Antonia, Arlene, Kamille
  • 205: Anjali, Chelsey, Colette, Izzabella, Jordin, Juniper, Kaycee, Laniya, Maribel, Marleigh
  • 204: Aviana, Katia
  • 203: Addie, Ariyah, Channing, Emmaline, Jalynn, Jazzlyn, Scarlette
  • 202: Galilea, Joslynn, Marin, Mercy, Reece
  • 201: Abrianna, Colleen, Denisse, Samiya, Treasure
  • 200: Kamora, Naima, Rebeca
  • 199: Aanya, Kaidence, Kamilah, Maycee, Romina
  • 198: Izabel, Malak, Marlie, Nyasia, Sarina, Tinsley
  • 197: Amyah, Aubrianna, Joselin, Lidia
  • 196: Carli, Harmoni, Jackeline, Kaleah, Kayli, Makiyah, Nariah, Shea, Soraya
  • 195: Ailyn, Anneliese, Ellison, Fallon, Remi
  • 194: Kamya, Tayla, Tyler
  • 193: Aditi, Elayna, Jailyn, Mireya
  • 192: Ariyana, Berkley, Kenia, Liv, Milena, Nicolette, Soleil
  • 191: Arden, Lillyanna, Maura, Vivianna
  • 190: Aubri, Avianna, Kathy, Lizette, Sonya, Yvette
  • 189: Alanah, Carson, Elly, Peighton, Shayna
  • 188: Evangelina, Laci, Maren
  • 187: Elyssa, Jamiya, Keila, Makaylah, Yara
  • 186: Emme, Graciela, Gwyneth
  • 185: Bonnie, Ellery, Elliott, Keily, Kenadie, Lucinda, Silvia
  • 184: Ananya, Astrid, Kailani, Maiya, Sunny, Wren
  • 183: Anais, Deja, Everleigh, Shreya, Tatianna
  • 182: Blanca, Elina, Sheila
  • 181: Amayah, Honesty, Lanie, Maite
  • 180: Kalia, Katy, Saylor
  • 179: Ashton, Citlali, Karmen, Mika
  • 178: Cordelia, Destini, Hunter, Lacie, Selene, Stevie, Tinley
  • 177: Alli, Annelise, Caelyn, Carrie, Celina, Dani, Jasmyn, Jazmyne, Kaci, Paislee, Toni
  • 176: Destiney, Gisele, Mabel, Rita, Sandy, Yarely
  • 175: Brandy, Brookelyn, Caitlynn, Estefany, Jaclyn, Kora, Mackenna, Marely
  • 174: Amariah, Amia, Deasia, Jaedyn, Justine
  • 173: Adamaris, Emmie, Nichole, Preslee, Rilee, Shirley
  • 172: Calleigh, Jaycie, Lilyann, Maddie
  • 171: Anita, Antonella, Bridgette, Lillyan
  • 170: Kalyn, Kirra, Sahara
  • 169: Analy, Kamiya, Lacy, Litzy, Mariajose, Maylee, Zaira
  • 168: Alex, Avani, Eunice, Jenesis, Monique, Nya, Wynter
  • 167: Ariyanna, Dina, Margarita, Nikki, Roxana
  • 166: Asha, Kacey, Karolina, Raya
  • 165: Estefani, Haidyn, Harleigh, Hillary, Josselyn, Kalea, Melia, Priya, Star
  • 164: Azalea, Drew, Lillyann, Magnolia, Miyah, Natali
  • 163: Ayden, Ayva, Gwen
  • 162: Alora, Aniah, Elana, Rhianna, Xochitl
  • 161: Aubry, Colbie, Devin, Freya, Milani, Noelia, Pyper, Rhiannon
  • 160: Audra, Faye, Jael, Kaylani, Maxine, Mayte, Nelly, Roxanna
  • 159: Adrian, Alessia, Carsyn, Everly, Gwenyth, Noel, Samaria, Tina, Ziva
  • 158: Alize, Amerie, Carter, Stacey
  • 157: Brylie, Camdyn, Dayanna, Emerie, Leena, Louisa, Robin, Yaretzy
  • 156: Brandi, Breana, Dalila, Eryn, Samya, Tayler
  • 155: Estelle, Kahlan, Margot, Veda
  • 154: Abygail, Aida, Alexi, Belle, Betsy, Christian, Coral, Jacklyn, Kalli, Tatyana
  • 153: Aubriana, Hattie, Jacie, Jaya, Marcella, Mylah, Rocio
  • 152: Aubrielle, Beatriz, Delanie, Ila, Lilyan, Meagan, Robyn, Savana
  • 151: Darby, Ellianna, Janie, Malina, Penny
  • 150: Allyssa, Bryana, Isha, Priscila, Susanna, Zahara
  • 149: Anissa, Brynley, Carol, Constance, Ellis, Geneva, Gizelle, Halo, Jasleen, Joana, Sahana
  • 148: Amberly, Anniston, Cailey, Farah, Nadine, Nailah, Rosalyn, Scout, Sheyla
  • 147: Adelle, Arlette, Austyn, Berenice, Estefania, Evalynn, Kaniyah, Lluvia, Makenzi, Mariella, Ryley, Shaelyn
  • 146: Elia, Josslyn, Louise, Mayah, Nariyah, Zoya
  • 145: Alianna, Capri, Ginger, Jaslynn, Katerina, Khloee, Kinlee, Linnea
  • 144: Anaiah, Ericka, Hadleigh, Juana, Keziah, Raniyah, Vida
  • 143: Arleth, Brea, Fabiola, Flor, Jaeda, Katlyn, Lela, Lucie, Maylin
  • 142: Darcy, Dasia, Jalyn, Rilynn, Sylvie, Taelyn
  • 141: Aniston, Chyna, Emmaleigh, Janaya, Trista, Zaylee
  • 140: Chiara, Emmeline, Thea
  • 139: Alyse, Candice, Carmella, Cayleigh, Kyrie, Yaneli, Yulissa
  • 138: Alasia, Darla, Diane, Leilany, Lilli, Paulette
  • 137: Amora, Cielo, Jurnee, Kacie, Makiya, Marlen, Reilly
  • 136: Alexandrea, Alyssia, Anayah, Andi, Holland, Keren, Sahasra, Yahaira
  • 135: Aja, Issabella, Kelis, Malayah
  • 134: Adaline, Addelyn, Anali, Ayah, Ema, Emalee, Layna, Leanne, Londynn, Triniti
  • 133: Adilene, Adilyn, Avril, Cailin, Calla, Charlene, Elisha, Jazlene, Melani, Yessenia
  • 132: Analeigh, Candace, Clementine, Kloey, Yolanda
  • 131: Alexys, Anisa, Ari, Della, Leela, Milania
  • 130: Aven, Cloe, Danae, Dianna, Grayson, Keegan
  • 129: Annmarie, Betty, Brianne, Calli, Kenleigh, Malka, Skylah, Taleah, Trisha
  • 128: Annaleigh, Avalyn, Baileigh, Brynna, Grecia, Harlie, Harmonie, Jaela, Katarina, Makaela, Maliya, Melisa
  • 127: Adela, Jackelyn, Janya, Jazelle, Jianna, Kennadi, Marjorie
  • 126: Andie, Felicia, Jorja, Kaily, Katharine, Mallorie, Mari, Milla, Ramona, Vianney, Yvonne
  • 125: Daniyah, Jayna, Kalani, Katalina, Kelsi, Kiya, Kristine, Rayleigh, Remy, Shira, Starr, Tracy
  • 124: Christy, Hadlee, Jovie, Naya, Shakira
  • 123: Adalee, Addilynn, Beatrix, Kami, Kenadee, Maisie, Rania, Solange, Yuna
  • 122: Alysa, Aminah, Claira, Elora, Emmerson, Isadora, Jaci, Jiselle, Kinslee, Marcela, Rosie
  • 121: Anisha, Avalon, Cayden, Citlaly, Eleni, Jenifer, Kasandra, Madisen, Makinley, Nala, Roxy, Samaya
  • 120: Camden, Ivette, Jeanette, Judy, Montserrat, Quincy, Taylar, Whitley
  • 119: Adrianne, Angely, Arianny, Baylie, Daria, Ester, Jahzara, Kenzi, Makyla, Remington, Tallulah
  • 118: Addalyn, Ebony, Emerald, Jaquelin, Leann, Martina, Maryann, Nikita, Poppy, Vanesa
  • 117: Aime, Audree, Ela, Emalyn, Heavenly, Malena, Melodie, Nellie, Oakley, Rachelle, Stormy, Viola
  • 116: Alonna, Brooklynne, Dior, Jaila, Lupita, Rosario, Taylin, Vianey, Yuridia
  • 115: Adamari, Audrie, Chandler, Jamiah, Kalina, Kaniya, Kayle, Randi, Xitlali
  • 114: Alba, Allegra, Ariela, Charis, Collins, Ivory, Joseline, Kamdyn, Kaylan, Lourdes, Norma, Saniah
  • 113: Alliyah, Alysha, Briza, Flora, Kari, Kensington, Maryn, Sade, Taytum, Yasmeen
  • 112: Anaiya, Brook, Ciera, Davina, Elli, Katheryn, Khadija, Madysen, Mindy, Roslyn, Semaj, Yael
  • 111: Adina, Amaria, Ania, Anushka, August, Carys, Frankie, Gitty, Jalaya, Janay, Kenlee, Nayla, Neha, Ria, Shoshana, Siri, Taylee
  • 110: Alea, Ariya, Cambree, Devon, Juanita, Khloie, Lisette, Lori, Lynn, Persephone, Prisha, Teegan
  • 109: Aila, Braylin, Breonna, Cianna, Emi, Jalissa, Jessalyn, Johannah, Jolee, Magdalene, Mariel, Shay, Skylee, Zoee
  • 108: Annamarie, Gracey, Haily, Iman, Julisa, Kaileigh, Laken, Lamya, Loren, Raylynn, Rhyan, Sanjana, Sonja, Yoselyn
  • 107: Addysen, Analee, Avalynn, Aymar, Giulianna, Haiden, Henley, Kaliah, Kamaria, Lyndsey, Mylie, Seraphina, Tanisha
  • 106: Aiden, Annalisa, Arionna, Blessing, Carrington, Dafne, Jesse, Kaydance, Lynette, May, Rhylee, Rylynn, Samia, Sol, Veronika
  • 105: Adilynn, Britany, Cameryn, Chevelle, Ciana, Jackie, Josalyn, Mariya, Raleigh, Skylynn, Sydnie, Tristyn, Zaina
  • 104: Aleksandra, Alycia, Anijah, Elysia, Jennah, Kristy, Lexus, Lexy, Liyah, Sabina, Tyra, Vicky
  • 103: Akshara, Alysia, Anaiyah, Araya, Brinlee, Dasha, Elinor, Giulia, Gladys, Jena, Joanne, Katelin, Kinleigh, Mandy, Myka, Preslie, Rylin, Sydni, Taliah, Violette, Ysabella, Zayla
  • 102: Ariadna, Azucena, Divya, Jacquelin, Joey, Karely, Khloey, Makiah, Miabella, Neriah, Olyvia, Ruthie, Saphira, Tanvi, Zaida
  • 101: Candy, Daira, Isobel, Jailynn, Janette, Janyla, Jessenia, Jiya, Kalista, Luella, Meera, Navaeh, Niya, Rain, Sana, Valencia, Zooey
  • 100: Aleyah, Alysson, Ayesha, Corina, Egypt, Imogen, Italia, Karmyn, Sariya, Zariya

Here’s the equivalent boys’ list for 2010.

Update, Aug. 2023: “Girl names beyond the top 1,000 of 2022” is a more recent version of this list.

Source: SSA

Image: Adapted from Scattered stars in Sagittarius by ESA/Hubble under CC BY 4.0.

Shea, Shae, Shay: Girl names or boy names?

This question has been bringing a lot of traffic to my blog lately, so I thought I’d post about it and see what everyone thinks.

Most of us know of Shea as a surname and/or a stadium name. Shea doesn’t currently rank in the top 1,000 for either boys or girls, but the name and its various spellings do appear farther down on the SSA’s list:

Shea247 girls155 boys
Shae114 girls25 boys
Shay107 girls82 boys
Shaye39 girls20 boys
Shai*34 girls44 boys
Totals:541 (62%)326 (38%)

Most versions are used more often for girls than for boys.

What do you think — is Shea a boy name or a girl name? How about other versions of the name? (Does spelling matter?)

*Commenter Panya correctly notes that Shai also happens to be an unrelated Hebrew name. It’s impossible to know which Shais are which, though, so I just counted them all as versions of Shea above.