Shay is a distinctive choice, ranked #2116 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Shay in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#2116
US Rank #997
About the Name Shay
Shay has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 429 places in five years. It was most popular in 1999 at #1107 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Shay is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #997, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Shay
Unlikely. With around 13 UK babies named Shay per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Shay in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Shay has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 429 places in the last five years. Its peak was #1107 in 1999. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Shay is more popular in the US (#997) than in the UK (#2116). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Shay include: Wendy Shay — Wendy Asiamah Addo, known by the stage name Wendy Shay, is a Ghanaian singer.; Shay Latukolan — Shay Latukolan is a Dutch choreographer, dancer and director.; Jonathan Shay — Jonathan Shay is an American doctor and clinical psychiatrist..
Shay does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice — your child is unlikely to encounter American Shays in the wild.
13
UK babies named Shay (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 429 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Shay
Likely around 1 other Shay in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2023)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Shay
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Wendy Asiamah Addo, known by the stage name Wendy Shay, is a Ghanaian singer. In March 2021, she was among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in Music by the 3Music Awards Women's Brunch.
Sheldon "Shay" Haley, also known as Shade, is an American musician. He was a member of the rock and hip-hop band N.E.R.D., alongside Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo.
Shay Carl Butler is an American YouTuber. He has three YouTube channels, two of which ("shaycarl" and "SHAYTARDS") have over three million subscribers.