Pronunciation
Shay
Meaning
Stately or noble
Related forms: Séaghdha (full form).
Alternate spellings
Séaghdha; Shea; Shay
Fun fact
Sé is a name in its own right, as well as a modern form connected with Séaghdha. It sounds just like Shay, but uses only two letters and a fada. The fada gives the é its long ay sound.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Sé, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
2025 ranking#317Among boy names
Babies named in 202513With this spelling
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | #317 |
| 2024 | 17 | #252 |
| 2023 | 6 | #516 |
| 2022 | 15 | #293 |
| 2021 | 10 | #364 |
| 2020 | 12 | #342 |
| 2019 | 12 | #335 |
| 2018 | 12 | #329 |
| 2017 | 9 | #394 |
| 2016 | 6 | #491 |
| 2015 | 6 | #503 |
| 2014 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2013 | 4 | #605 |
| 2012 | 4 | #616 |
| 2011 | 10 | #387 |
| 2010 | 3 | #720 |
| 2009 | 7 | #429 |
| 2008 | 8 | #412 |
| 2007 | 6 | #435 |
| 2006 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2005 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2004 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2003 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2002 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2001 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2000 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1999 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1998 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1997 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1996 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1995 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1994 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1993 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1992 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1991 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1990 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1989 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1988 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1987 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1986 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1985 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1984 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1983 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1982 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1981 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1980 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1979 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1976 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1975 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1969 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1966 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.
