Shea Unisex

Popularity: #748 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SHAY //ʃeɪ//

Origin: Irish; Hebrew

Meaning: Irish: 'admirable'; Hebrew: 'gift'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Shea has its roots in the Irish language, derived from the Gaelic name "Séaghdha," which means "admirable" or "hawk-like." The transition of the name into English occurred through the Anglicization of Irish names during the 19th century, as Irish immigrants brought their cultural heritage to English-speaking countries. The spelling variations, including Shea, emerged as a result of phonetic adaptations to fit English pronunciation and orthographic conventions.

Historically, the name Shea is associated with various figures in Irish history and mythology. One notable reference is to the legendary hero and warrior, who is often depicted in tales of valor and bravery.

The name has also been borne by several saints, contributing to its significance in Irish culture. The use of the name in literature can be traced back to the 20th century, where it appeared in works that explored themes of identity and heritage, further embedding it within the cultural narrative.

Culturally, Shea carries connotations of strength and resilience, qualities that resonate with the Irish spirit. The name has been embraced in various forms, including the diminutive "Shay," which has also gained recognition.

The enduring nature of the name can be attributed to its deep roots in Irish tradition and its association with positive attributes, making it a symbol of pride for those of Irish descent. Overall, Shea reflects a rich linguistic and cultural heritage, embodying the values and history of the Irish people.

Famous people named Shea

In this section, you will find notable people named Shea. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Shea who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Shea who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Shea Couleé is a drag performer and singer best known for RuPaul's Drag Race, Drag Race All Stars, and her music career.

Shea Patterson is a professional football player best known for playing quarterback at the University of Michigan and in the NFL.

Shea Whigham is an actor best known for Boardwalk Empire, True Detective, and Joker.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Shea, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

MaeNoraLilaTessClaraZoe

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Shea. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

ShaySiaLeiaMayaNiaRheaKaya

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Shea was first seen in the United States in 1950.

Shea has ranked as high as #1009 nationally, which occurred in 2005, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

In the past 5 years the name Shea has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Shea is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Shea was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Shea.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 312 111 201
2024 321 120 201
2023 391 144 247
2022 369 124 245
2021 380 138 242
2020 319 112 207
2019 329 124 205
2018 312 117 195
2017 311 127 184
2016 336 102 234
2015 291 100 191
2014 312 106 206
2013 302 105 197
2012 298 127 171
2011 320 148 172
2010 322 123 199
2009 411 159 252
2008 411 133 278
2007 460 167 293
2006 485 189 296
2005 531 183 348
2004 524 195 329
2003 523 205 318
2002 515 221 294
2001 514 187 327
2000 484 163 321
1999 433 152 281
1998 452 137 315
1997 489 180 309
1996 441 155 286
1995 447 187 260
1994 484 197 287
1993 413 170 243
1992 450 178 272
1991 447 181 266
1990 449 221 228
1989 449 218 231
1988 498 245 253
1987 490 261 229
1986 486 280 206
1985 427 234 193
1984 436 257 179
1983 225 106 119
1982 240 108 132
1981 241 105 136
1980 269 115 154
1979 246 95 151
1978 232 102 130
1977 211 93 118
1976 215 103 112
1975 228 110 118
1974 257 102 155
1973 219 92 127
1972 195 70 125
1971 191 64 127
1970 185 71 114
1969 124 45 79
1968 86 44 42
1967 66 23 43
1966 51 15 36
1965 35 14 21
1964 34 9 25
1963 20 11 9
1962 22 11 11
1961 24 11 13
1960 23 10 13
1959 24 13 11
1958 8 0 8
1957 16 7 9
1956 8 0 8
1955 8 0 8
1954 5 5 0
1953 6 0 6
1951 7 0 7
1950 7 0 7

Top States for Shea (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
NY 49
21%
NJ 30
13%
PA 25
10%
CA 24
10%
MA 22
9%
IL 19
8%
CT 19
8%
AZ 15
6%
MI 13
5%
NC 6
3%
TX 6
3%
VA 6
3%
WA 5
2%