Shea

♀ Girl

Pronounced SHAY /ʃeɪ/High

Meaning: Admirable; from Irish Gaelic Séaghdha (admirable, fine); or from the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) of West AfricaMedium

In 30 seconds: The most common spelling of the Irish name meaning 'admirable' (see Shay), also evoking the shea tree of West Africa whose butter is prized worldwide. One syllable, three letters, maximum flexibility.

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Origin MediumIrish, Hebrew, African

MeaningAdmirable; from Irish Gaelic Séaghdha (admirable, fine); or from the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) of West Africa

U.S. rank (2025)#1159 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births201 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2005

Total births (all-time)≈ 12,564

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

Shea is the most common English spelling of the Irish Gaelic name Séaghdha (admirable, fine). It also echoes the West African shea tree (source of shea butter), connecting it to a broader multicultural resonance. Both connections share the same sound but have independent origins.

Shea has been used for both boys and girls in the U.S. and ranked #1187 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? The shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) — whose butter is used in cosmetics, cooking, and traditional medicine — is sometimes called the 'women's gold' of West Africa, because shea butter production is almost entirely controlled by women.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name — Shea — Irish Gaelic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ShayShae

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Shea Whigham (1969-)
American actor in Boardwalk Empire
★Shea Weber (1985-)
Canadian NHL defenceman
★Shea Couleé (1989-)
American drag performer from RuPaul's Drag Race

If you like Shea…

Shay— the y-spelling variant of the same name

Shae— the ae-spelling variant of the same name

Faye— one-syllable name with the same breezy unisex quality

Bree— one-syllable Irish name with the same crisp Celtic sound

Lee— one-syllable suffix name used independently

Explore names like Shea

By themeunisex nature irish one-syllable gaelic west-african

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shea mean?

Shea means 'admirable' or 'fine' from Irish Gaelic Séaghdha. It also evokes the shea tree of West Africa, source of the renowned shea butter.

How do you pronounce Shea?

It's said SHAY — one syllable, rhyming with 'day.'

Is Shea a boy or girl name?

Shea is a unisex name used for both boys and girls.

How popular is Shea?

Shea ranked #1187 for U.S. girls in 2024.