Fun Facts About the Name Shai
- More than 4 thousand babies named Shai: U.S. records list 4,340 babies given the name Shai from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 1,871 girls received the name Shai.
What Does the Name Shai Mean?
Shai is a Hebrew name meaning "gift" or "present." It comes from the Hebrew noun שַׁי (shai), which appears in the Hebrew Bible in passages about gifts or tribute brought to God or to a king. The name is sometimes used as a short form of Yeshayahu (Isaiah), but the standalone name Shai derives from the word for gift, not from the longer prophetic name.
Shai Name History & Origins
The noun shai is biblical Hebrew. In Psalm 68:29, kings bring shai to God's temple in Jerusalem, and Psalm 76:11 calls on those around God to bring shai. These are uses of the common noun, not a personal name. The word is ancient, but its use as a given name is modern. Shai is a modern Hebrew name, used in Israel and in Jewish communities elsewhere; in Israel it is generally masculine. It can also serve as a nickname for Yeshayahu (Isaiah). The name is distinct from the similar-looking Irish name Shay, which has a separate origin.
How Popular is the Name Shai?
Shai recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2023. Its best rank was #981 in 2023.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,349 | 78 | 0.0049% |
| 2024 | #1,963 | 101 | 0.0063% |
| 2023 | #1,771 | 116 | 0.0072% |
| 2022 | #1,894 | 107 | 0.0065% |
| 2021 | #2,022 | 96 | 0.0059% |
| 2020 | #2,465 | 71 | 0.0044% |
| 2019 | #2,849 | 59 | 0.0035% |
| 2018 | #3,336 | 48 | 0.0028% |
| 2017 | #4,137 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 2016 | #4,716 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2015 | #4,572 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 2014 | #5,293 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2013 | #6,433 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2012 | #4,473 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2011 | #4,342 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2010 | #5,568 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2009 | #4,463 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2008 | #3,997 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 2007 | #3,904 | 41 | 0.0021% |
| 2006 | #3,781 | 41 | 0.0022% |
| 2005 | #5,088 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2004 | #5,186 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2003 | #5,070 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2002 | #3,871 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2001 | #3,537 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 2000 | #3,111 | 45 | 0.0025% |
| 1999 | #3,495 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1998 | #2,687 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 1997 | #2,303 | 59 | 0.0034% |
| 1996 | #2,337 | 57 | 0.0033% |
| 1995 | #2,450 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 1994 | #2,162 | 63 | 0.0035% |
| 1993 | #1,678 | 90 | 0.0050% |
| 1992 | #5,225 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1991 | #7,873 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1990 | #7,766 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1989 | #10,620 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #6,196 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1987 | #6,696 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #9,357 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #9,087 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #5,474 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1982 | #9,011 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #6,713 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1980 | #6,238 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1978 | #9,485 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #5,462 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1976 | #10,555 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #7,000 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1974 | #8,512 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #6,534 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #6,438 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #8,125 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1970 | #9,055 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #7,293 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #7,953 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,032 | 215 | 0.0126% |
| 2024 | #1,086 | 200 | 0.0117% |
| 2023 | #981 | 224 | 0.0131% |
| 2022 | #1,019 | 219 | 0.0126% |
| 2021 | #1,072 | 199 | 0.0114% |
| 2020 | #1,447 | 120 | 0.0070% |
| 2019 | #1,656 | 98 | 0.0055% |
| 2018 | #1,974 | 75 | 0.0041% |
| 2017 | #2,106 | 66 | 0.0036% |
| 2016 | #2,470 | 52 | 0.0027% |
| 2015 | #2,520 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 2014 | #3,207 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 2013 | #2,487 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 2012 | #2,351 | 55 | 0.0029% |
| 2011 | #2,733 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 2010 | #2,722 | 45 | 0.0023% |
| 2009 | #2,742 | 45 | 0.0023% |
| 2008 | #2,373 | 55 | 0.0027% |
| 2007 | #2,859 | 42 | 0.0020% |
| 2006 | #3,210 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 2005 | #3,602 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2004 | #3,062 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 2003 | #2,916 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 2002 | #2,741 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 2001 | #3,704 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2000 | #3,284 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1999 | #4,311 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1998 | #3,004 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1997 | #3,054 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1996 | #2,735 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1995 | #2,172 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 1994 | #2,079 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 1993 | #1,896 | 44 | 0.0022% |
| 1992 | #4,816 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #7,152 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #3,749 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #6,123 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #5,662 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #4,526 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #7,645 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #5,072 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #3,895 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1983 | #5,389 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #5,528 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #4,436 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #5,426 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #5,272 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #4,357 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1974 | #4,562 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1972 | #5,624 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #4,317 | 7 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Shai
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with S
Unique Short Boy Names That Start with S
How the Name Shai Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Shai's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Shai's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.