Fun Facts About the Name Shia
- More than 3 thousand babies named Shia: U.S. records list 3,345 babies given the name Shia from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 1,092 girls received the name Shia - about 1 girl for every 2 boys.
What Does the Name Shia Mean?
Shia is a given name with two separate origins. In Jewish use it is a shortened form of the Hebrew name Yeshayahu, known in English as Isaiah, which means "Yahweh is salvation." It is also sometimes linked to the Hebrew word shai, "gift." Independently, Shia matches the Arabic word shīʿa (شِيعَة), meaning "party" or "followers," from a root meaning "to follow" or "to accompany."
Shia Name History & Origins
The Hebrew name Yeshayahu belongs to the prophet Isaiah, whose book is part of the Hebrew Bible. Among Yiddish-speaking Jews, that name produced familiar shortened forms such as Shaya and Shia, used as everyday personal names. The Arabic shīʿa comes from the root sh-y-ʿ, "to follow" or "to accompany," and was used for a body of partisans; the phrase Shīʿat ʿAlī, "the party of Ali," gave its name to the Shi'a branch of Islam. As an English given name, Shia is uncommon; the American actor Shia LaBeouf is a well-known bearer. It is unrelated to the Irish name Shea, which comes from a different source.
How Popular is the Name Shia?
Shia 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 2024. Its best rank was #1,201 in 2024.
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 | #4,258 | 34 | 0.0021% |
| 2024 | #3,036 | 54 | 0.0033% |
| 2023 | #3,371 | 48 | 0.0030% |
| 2022 | #3,264 | 50 | 0.0031% |
| 2021 | #3,150 | 52 | 0.0032% |
| 2020 | #3,269 | 48 | 0.0030% |
| 2019 | #4,328 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 2018 | #3,660 | 42 | 0.0025% |
| 2017 | #5,166 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2016 | #4,231 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 2015 | #5,108 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2014 | #4,089 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2013 | #3,637 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 2012 | #4,475 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2011 | #2,939 | 59 | 0.0034% |
| 2010 | #2,935 | 59 | 0.0033% |
| 2009 | #2,392 | 81 | 0.0044% |
| 2008 | #2,248 | 88 | 0.0047% |
| 2007 | #4,199 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2006 | #5,210 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2005 | #4,940 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2004 | #4,267 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 2003 | #3,460 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 2002 | #6,095 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2001 | #8,127 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2000 | #11,635 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #14,158 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #12,231 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #8,253 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #11,605 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #13,194 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,360 | 138 | 0.0081% |
| 2024 | #1,201 | 170 | 0.0099% |
| 2023 | #1,236 | 159 | 0.0093% |
| 2022 | #1,304 | 146 | 0.0084% |
| 2021 | #1,260 | 152 | 0.0087% |
| 2020 | #1,366 | 130 | 0.0075% |
| 2019 | #1,812 | 85 | 0.0047% |
| 2018 | #2,027 | 72 | 0.0040% |
| 2017 | #1,620 | 99 | 0.0054% |
| 2016 | #2,006 | 72 | 0.0038% |
| 2015 | #1,997 | 73 | 0.0038% |
| 2014 | #1,667 | 93 | 0.0048% |
| 2013 | #1,960 | 71 | 0.0038% |
| 2012 | #2,014 | 70 | 0.0037% |
| 2011 | #1,532 | 104 | 0.0055% |
| 2010 | #1,635 | 96 | 0.0050% |
| 2009 | #1,454 | 115 | 0.0058% |
| 2008 | #1,799 | 83 | 0.0041% |
| 2007 | #2,966 | 40 | 0.0019% |
| 2006 | #3,146 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 2005 | #3,308 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 2004 | #4,388 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 2003 | #3,613 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2002 | #4,468 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2001 | #5,096 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2000 | #5,536 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1999 | #3,814 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1998 | #6,229 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #4,029 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1996 | #7,845 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #6,886 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #5,813 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1993 | #7,501 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #7,282 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #7,160 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #7,065 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #6,133 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #8,321 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #4,416 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #4,523 | 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 Shia 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 intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
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.
✦ Shia's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Shia's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.