Fun Facts About the Name Shaya
- More than 2 thousand babies named Shaya: U.S. records list 2,847 babies given the name Shaya from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 1,040 girls received the name Shaya - about 1 girl for every 2 boys.
What Does the Name Shaya Mean?
Shaya is a Hebrew and Yiddish masculine name meaning "God is salvation." It is a familiar form of the biblical name Yeshayahu (יְשַׁעְיָהוּ), known in English as Isaiah. The Hebrew name combines the root y-sh-ʿ, "to save," with Yah (יָהּ), a short form of the divine name YHWH; its literal sense is "Yah is salvation." In Yiddish-speaking Jewish communities, Yeshayahu was shortened to Shaya for everyday use. A separate feminine Hebrew name, Shaya (שיה), is sometimes explained as shai (שַׁי), "gift," plus Yah, meaning "gift of God"; it is distinct from the Yiddish name from Isaiah.
Shaya Name History & Origins
The Hebrew name Yeshayahu is the name of the biblical prophet Isaiah, whose book is part of the Hebrew Bible. Among Yiddish-speaking Ashkenazi Jews, Yeshayahu was the formal Hebrew name used for religious purposes, while Shaya served as the everyday vernacular form. Jewish immigrants brought Shaya to North America and Western Europe, and it is also used in Israel. The English spelling Shaya reflects a transliteration of the Yiddish or Hebrew pronunciation; related Hebrew spellings include שייא and שיה.
How Popular is the Name Shaya?
Shaya has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #1,375 in 2025.
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 | #4,055 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 2024 | #3,863 | 39 | 0.0024% |
| 2023 | #4,981 | 27 | 0.0017% |
| 2022 | #4,027 | 37 | 0.0023% |
| 2021 | #4,493 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 2020 | #4,432 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 2019 | #5,290 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 2018 | #4,443 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 2017 | #7,785 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2016 | #6,632 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2015 | #6,207 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2014 | #4,882 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 2013 | #5,807 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2012 | #8,564 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2011 | #5,905 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2010 | #6,354 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2009 | #5,685 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2008 | #5,121 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2007 | #5,358 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2006 | #5,356 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2005 | #5,579 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2004 | #5,525 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2003 | #4,648 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 2002 | #6,348 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2001 | #4,981 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2000 | #5,906 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1999 | #5,185 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1998 | #6,033 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1997 | #6,443 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1996 | #4,859 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1995 | #4,199 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1994 | #5,946 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1993 | #6,209 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #5,680 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1991 | #5,366 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1990 | #6,417 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #6,107 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #5,564 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1987 | #5,272 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1986 | #4,926 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1985 | #5,985 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1984 | #7,319 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1983 | #10,045 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #3,877 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1981 | #5,529 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #3,978 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1979 | #5,361 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1978 | #8,389 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #6,790 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1976 | #9,039 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #5,698 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1973 | #9,531 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1972 | #9,373 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,375 | 135 | 0.0079% |
| 2024 | #1,451 | 125 | 0.0073% |
| 2023 | #1,494 | 120 | 0.0070% |
| 2022 | #1,768 | 94 | 0.0054% |
| 2021 | #1,610 | 106 | 0.0061% |
| 2020 | #1,824 | 82 | 0.0048% |
| 2019 | #1,522 | 112 | 0.0062% |
| 2018 | #1,832 | 83 | 0.0046% |
| 2017 | #2,047 | 69 | 0.0037% |
| 2016 | #1,841 | 82 | 0.0043% |
| 2015 | #2,427 | 53 | 0.0028% |
| 2014 | #2,509 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 2013 | #2,518 | 49 | 0.0026% |
| 2012 | #2,480 | 51 | 0.0027% |
| 2011 | #2,399 | 53 | 0.0028% |
| 2010 | #2,504 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 2009 | #2,839 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 2008 | #3,638 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 2007 | #3,777 | 28 | 0.0013% |
| 2006 | #3,441 | 31 | 0.0015% |
| 2005 | #3,440 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2004 | #3,357 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2003 | #3,354 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 2002 | #3,650 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2001 | #3,495 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2000 | #4,754 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1999 | #4,503 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #4,172 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1997 | #5,229 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #5,904 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #6,335 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1994 | #5,399 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #4,186 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #9,599 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #3,791 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1990 | #3,580 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1989 | #4,484 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1988 | #5,157 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #4,783 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #7,423 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #5,486 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #6,106 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #7,214 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1981 | #7,116 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #5,279 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #5,663 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #5,355 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1955 | #4,318 | 5 | 0.0002% |
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.
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How the Name Shaya 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 desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Shaya's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Shaya's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.