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Shae
Pronounced SHAY /ˈʃeɪ/Medium
Meaning: Variant of Shea, from Gaelic Seaghdha 'admirable, stately, hawk-like'.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Shae is a variant of Shea, going back to the Gaelic Seaghdha with its sense of 'admirable, stately, hawk-like'. The family tree runs through older forms such as Séaghdha and Ségdae to the everyday spellings Shea and Shay. As a single bright syllable, it works easily for a girl while keeping its Irish backbone.
The name's one-beat sound and many spellings, Shae, Shea, Shay, let families pick the look they like without losing the hawk-like meaning underneath; hockey's Shea Weber and actor Shea Whigham show how widely the sound travels.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★Shea Weber (1985-present)Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who captained the Montreal Canadiens.
- ★Shea Whigham (1969-present)American actor known for roles in 'Boardwalk Empire', 'Joker' and the 'Mission: Impossible' films.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Shae mean?
Shae is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.
How do you pronounce Shae?
It's commonly said SHAY /ˈʃeɪ/.
Is Shae a boy or girl name?
In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Shae is used as a girl name.
How popular is Shae?
In 2024, Shae ranked #2163 in the U.S. for girls, with 88 births recorded.