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Shaleah
How to Pronounce Shaleah
Pronounced shuh-LEE-uh /ΚΙΛliΛΙ/High
Meaning: Shaleah pairs the popular Sha- prefix with Leah, the Hebrew name traditionally read as 'weary' or, in another tradition, 'delicate.' The Sha- opening carries no literal meaning of its own; it is a decorative element common in late-twentieth-century African American names, so the inherited sense comes through the Leah element.Low
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Shaleah is a coined American girls' name recorded from the late 1970s. It builds on Leah, a biblical Hebrew name, dressing it with the fashionable Sha- prefix that shaped many names of the era. The result keeps Leah's gentle sound while feeling freshly made.
It never spread widely, reaching only a couple dozen girls a year at its early-2000s high. A girl named Shaleah then is in her twenties now, from a generation that loved elaborated, prefix-built names.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Shaleah mean?
It blends the Sha- prefix with Leah, a Hebrew name meaning 'weary' or 'delicate.'
How do you pronounce Shaleah?
It's said shuh-LEE-uh /ΚΙΛliΛΙ/, three syllables, stress on the middle.
Is Shaleah a boy or girl name?
Shaleah is used as a girl's name.
Is Shaleah a popular name?
No, it has always been rare, a modern blend given to only a few girls a year.