Shey

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Shey

Pronounced SHAY /ˈʃeɪ/Low

Meaning: Shey is a respelling of Shea or Shay, an anglicized form of the Irish surname O Seaghdha. The root seaghdha is usually read as 'admirable,' 'stately,' or 'hawk-like,' so the name carries a note of dignity and keen bearing; the -ey spelling is a modern variant of the sound.Low

In 30 seconds: Shey is a rare boy's name, a modern spelling of Shea or Shay, an Irish name meaning 'admirable' or 'hawk-like.' It is said SHAY.

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Origin LowIrish, American

MeaningShey is a respelling of Shea or Shay, an anglicized form of the Irish surname O Seaghdha. The root seaghdha is usually read as 'admirable,' 'stately,' or 'hawk-like,' so the name carries a note of dignity and keen bearing; the -ey spelling is a modern variant of the sound.

U.S. rank (2021)#10606 ↗ Rising

2021 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1991

Total births (all-time)≈ 146

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

Shey is a phonetic take on Shea, one of the Irish surnames that crossed comfortably into first-name use for boys and girls alike. The plain -ey spelling keeps the single-syllable sound while giving it a slightly softer, modern look.

It appears in United States records from the middle nineteen-seventies and reached its small peak around the start of the nineteen-nineties, staying in scattered use since without ever becoming common. A man named Shey from that peak is now in his mid-thirties, part of the Irish-surname-name trend.

Did you know? The Irish word behind Shey, seaghdha, has been read as both 'stately' and 'hawk-like,' giving the short name an old sense of proud, keen bearing.

Overall data confidence 35%

References - Shey — Respelling of Shea/Shay (Irish O Seaghdha, 'admirable/hawk-like'); peak early 1990s.

Variations

SheaShayShaiShae

Nicknames

Shey

Famous Bearers

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If you like Shey…

Shea— the Irish name it respells

Shay— a closely related spelling

Kai— a like short one-syllable name

Rhys— a comparable Celtic surname-name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shey mean?

It is a modern spelling of Shea or Shay, an Irish surname name from O Seaghdha, meaning 'admirable' or 'hawk-like, stately.'

How do you pronounce Shey?

It is said SHAY /ˈʃeɪ/.

Is Shey a boy or girl name?

Shey is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Shey?

It was always rare in the United States, given to only about fourteen boys even at its peak around the start of the nineteen-nineties.