The first name Shea
A unisex name from Irish.
Pronounced /ʃeɪ/ 1 syllable Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Irish origin
Anglicised from Irish Ó Séaghdha.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 24 boys were named Shea, making it the 1,197th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1999, with 87 births (#308).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Shea with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Shea at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 201 girls born in the United States were named Shea, the 1,159th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2005, when 348 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
More Irish unisex names
Questions
- What does the name Shea mean?
- Anglicised from Irish Ó Séaghdha.
- What is the origin of the name Shea?
- Anglicised from Irish Ó Séaghdha.
- How popular is the name Shea?
- In 2025, 24 boys born in England and Wales were named Shea, ranking 1,197th. Its peak was 1999, with 87 births.
- Is Shea a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 21,102 US babies named Shea since 1880, 60% were girls and 40% boys.
- When was Shea most popular?
- 2005 in the United States, when 348 babies were named Shea, its highest rank at 764th.
- How do you pronounce Shea?
- Shea is /ʃeɪ/, one syllable.
- Is Shea also a surname?
- Yes. Shea is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.