The name Shyheim debuted impressively in the U.S. baby name data in 1994:
- 1997: 102 baby boys named Shyheim
- 1996: 110 baby boys named Shyheim
- 1995: 83 baby boys named Shyheim
- 1994: 168 baby boys named Shyheim [rank: 819th]
- 1993: unlisted
- 1992: unlisted
In fact, Shyheim was the top boy-name debut of 1994, reaching the top 1,000 for the first and only time that year.
A number of variant forms also popped up in the data in the mid-1990s:
1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | |
Sheheem | 18 | 36 | 31 | 27 | 47 |
Shyheem | . | 23* | 20 | 16 | 29 |
Shyhiem | . | 17* | 17 | 11 | 20 |
Shaheim | 14* | 13 | 9 | 17 | |
Shiheem | . | 6* | 12 | 8 | 10 |
Shaiheem | . | 5* | . | . | . |
Shahiem | . | . | 9* | 5 | 6 |
Shiheim | . | . | . | 5* | . |
Shyhem | . | . | . | 5* | . |
So what caused this sudden interest in the name?
Shyheim (pronounced shy-HEEM or shah-HEEM) — in full, Shyheim Dionel Franklin — a teenage rapper from New York City who was affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan.
Shyheim’s most successful single, “On and On,” was released in late 1993 and reached #89 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart in April of 1994. The same month, he released his successful debut album, AKA the Rugged Child. This was followed by his equally successful second album, The Lost Generation, in mid-1996.
Since then, though, Shyheim’s musical output hasn’t been as well-received, and the usage of the name has declined accordingly.
What are your thoughts on the name Shyheim? (How would you spell it?)
Sources: Shyheim – Wikipedia, Billboard Hot 100 (Week of April 9, 1994)