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Shea Name Meaning, Origins & History

Shea

Pronunciation: SHAY

Meaning From the fairy fort Origin surnames Gender Unisex
GIRLS RANK
#1,159
TREND
28
BOYS RANK
#1,552
TREND
58
Peak Years
2005, 2004, 2001
Lowest Years
1953, 1950, 1951
Energy Archetype
Original & Spiritually Intense

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of girls named Shea in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Shea

  • More than 21 thousand babies named Shea: U.S. records list 21,102 babies given the name Shea from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 8,538 boys received the name Shea.

What Does the Name Shea Mean?

Shea is an anglicized Irish name meaning "hawk-like." It comes from the Gaelic personal name Séaghdha, whose fuller surname form is Ó Séaghdha, "descendant of Séaghdha." The usual gloss of Séaghdha is "hawk-like," though some reference works give "stately" or "majestic" instead, so the exact sense of the older word is not certain. The name has no connection to the West African shea tree and its shea butter; the two share a spelling, not an origin.

Shea Name History & Origins

Shea began as a surname. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Séaghdha, a family name of Munster in the south of Ireland, long associated with Counties Kerry and Cork. Under English-language administration in Ireland, Gaelic names were written down by sound, and Ó Séaghdha produced the surname spellings O'Shea, Shea, and Shay. The related patronymic Mac Séaghdha, "son of Séaghdha," gave forms such as McShea.

Use of Shea as a first name is more recent and grew out of the surname, part of a wider pattern in English-speaking countries of adopting Irish surnames as given names. It is now given to both boys and girls, and the spelling Shay is a common alternative.

How Popular is the Name Shea?

Shea recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2005. Its best rank was #530 in 1986.

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.

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 Shea 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 have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.

You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.

✦ Shea's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Shea's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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