Pronunciation
Shay
Meaning
Stately, admirable or fortunate, from Seaghdha
Related forms: Shea (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Shea
Fun fact
Shay is another spelling of Shea. Shea is connected with the old Irish name Séaghdha. You'll recognise it in the surname O'Shea too. So it's a family-name connection that's also used as a first name.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Shay, 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.
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 | 101 | #52 |
| 2024 | 107 | #50 |
| 2023 | 109 | #53 |
| 2022 | 152 | #39 |
| 2021 | 126 | #52 |
| 2020 | 117 | #53 |
| 2019 | 103 | #63 |
| 2018 | 98 | #65 |
| 2017 | 86 | #84 |
| 2016 | 88 | #78 |
| 2015 | 98 | #78 |
| 2014 | 97 | #83 |
| 2013 | 104 | #76 |
| 2012 | 69 | #103 |
| 2011 | 72 | #106 |
| 2010 | 99 | #78 |
| 2009 | 78 | #97 |
| 2008 | 63 | #119 |
| 2007 | 47 | #134 |
| 2006 | 42 | #132 |
| 2005 | 29 | #158 |
| 2004 | 22 | #171 |
| 2003 | 16 | #187 |
| 2002 | 17 | #185 |
| 2001 | 12 | #209 |
| 2000 | 6 | #274 |
| 1999 | 6 | #266 |
| 1998 | 10 | #203 |
| 1997 | 12 | #209 |
| 1996 | 5 | #295 |
| 1995 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1994 | 4 | #299 |
| 1993 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1992 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1991 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1990 | 3 | #323 |
| 1989 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1988 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1987 | 3 | #303 |
| 1986 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1985 | 3 | #304 |
| 1984 | 3 | #318 |
| 1983 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1982 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1981 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1980 | 3 | #321 |
| 1979 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | 4 | #293 |
| 1976 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1975 | 3 | #321 |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1972 | 4 | #279 |
| 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.