Shea

♂ Boy

Pronounced SHAY /ˈʃeɪ/Medium

Meaning: an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Séaghdha, from a byname meaning 'stately', 'admirable' or 'dauntless'Medium

In 30 seconds: Shea is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Séaghdha, from a byname meaning 'stately', 'admirable', or 'dauntless'.

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Origin MediumIrish

Meaningan anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Séaghdha, from a byname meaning 'stately', 'admirable' or 'dauntless'

U.S. rank (2025)#1552 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births111 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1986

Total births (all-time)≈ 8,538

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

The name comes from the Irish surname Ó Séaghdha, built on a personal byname that meant 'stately', 'admirable', or 'dauntless'. Anglicized as Shea, it moved from family name to given name and carries that flattering original sense.

Several spellings travel together, including Shay, Shae, and Shaye, alongside the older Irish forms Sé and Séaghdha; the name suits a boy or a girl.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Shea is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Shea — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

SéSéaghdhaShayShaeShaye

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Shea Weber (1985-)
Canadian NHL defenseman and longtime captain of the Nashville Predators
★Shea Whigham (1969-)
American character actor known for Boardwalk Empire and Fargo
★Shea Patterson (1997-)
American college football quarterback at Ole Miss and Michigan

If you like Shea…

Shay— a common anglicized spelling of the same Irish name

Shae— a variant spelling sharing Shea's sound and origin

Roan— another Irish name

Leam— another Irish name

Quill— another Irish name

Explore names like Shea

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shea mean?

Shea is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Irish tradition.

How do you pronounce Shea?

It's commonly said SHAY /ˈʃeɪ/.

Is Shea a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Shea is used as a boy name.

How popular is Shea?

In 2024, Shea ranked #1494 in the U.S. for boys, with 120 births recorded.