Shaw

♂ Boy

Pronounced SHAW /ˈʃɔ/High

Meaning: From an English surname — Old English sceaga, 'a small wood, thicket, copse' — 'dweller by the wood'Medium

In 30 seconds: Crisp and woodsy: Shaw is the English 'dweller by the wood' — a snappy, literary surname-name (George Bernard Shaw). One syllable, all class.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningFrom an English surname — Old English sceaga, 'a small wood, thicket, copse' — 'dweller by the wood'

U.S. rank (2024)#4289 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births25 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2020

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,315

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 comes from an English surname — Old English sceaga, 'a small wood, thicket, copse' — 'dweller by the wood'. A crisp, literary surname-name (George Bernard Shaw).

It registers thinly in records. Rare, by-the-wood at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Shaw means 'a small wood, thicket' (Old English sceaga) — a crisp surname-name carried by playwright George Bernard Shaw; literary and cool.

Overall data confidence 75%

Surname references — Shaw — etymology

Variations

ShaweShea

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Shaw Taylor (1924-2015)
British television presenter best known for hosting Police 5

If you like Shaw…

Shea— a fellow Sh- name

Blaine— a companion one-syllable name

Cole— another crisp surname-name

Reid— a fellow short surname-name

Explore names like Shaw

By themeenglish surname-name nature

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shaw mean?

Shaw is English for 'a small wood, thicket' — 'dweller by the wood'.

How do you pronounce Shaw?

It's said SHAW /ˈʃɔ/ — a single syllable.

Is Shaw a boy or girl name?

Shaw is a boy's name.

How popular is Shaw?

Shaw is a rare name in the U.S.