Shaw

♀ Girl

Pronounced SHAW /ˈʃɔː/High

Meaning: From the English/Scottish surname Shaw, from Old English sceaga, 'a small wood; thicket' (also a Scottish clan name), famed via George Bernard Shaw. Used here for a girl though it reads strongly male.Low

In 30 seconds: A crisp surname name: Shaw means 'a small wood; thicket' (said 'SHAW'). It reads strongly as a boy's name — we note the lean.

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Origin MediumEnglish, Scottish

MeaningFrom the English/Scottish surname Shaw, from Old English sceaga, 'a small wood; thicket' (also a Scottish clan name), famed via George Bernard Shaw. Used here for a girl though it reads strongly male.

U.S. rank (2024)#17262 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2014

Total births (all-time)≈ 56

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

Shaw is an English/Scottish surname from Old English sceaga, 'a small wood; thicket,' and a Scottish clan name. As a girl's name it is very rare and surname-style; it reads strongly as a boy's name, which we note (said 'SHAW').

For girls it appears only very rarely in the U.S. Rare, crisp, and surname-style.

Did you know? Shaw began as an English and Scottish surname from a word for 'a small wood; thicket' — carried by playwright George Bernard Shaw. Used here for a girl, it reads strongly male, which we note (said 'SHAW').

Overall data confidence 45%

References — Shaw — English/Scottish surname 'small wood'; boy-leaning

Variations

ShaughShaweShea

Nicknames

ShawShay

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shaw mean?

Shaw is an English/Scottish surname meaning 'a small wood; thicket,' now used as a first name.

How do you pronounce Shaw?

It's said SHAW /ˈʃɔː/ — one syllable.

Is Shaw a boy or girl name?

Shaw is used for both, but it reads strongly as a boy's name — we note the lean.

How popular is Shaw?

Shaw is rare for girls in the U.S. and more common for boys.