Namewise
Shortlist

Shay

maleStatistical record

What official birth registration shows about Shay: which national registrars published it, in which years, and how its recorded position changed.

No researched meaning, origin or pronunciation yet — what that means.

Falling

among girls in England and Wales · 1996–2025

England and Wales · Girls rank from 1996 to 2025, ranging from #1107 to #4867.200020052010201520202025#1107#4867
How to read this chart#1#500no figure publishedUp means a stronger rankBottom is this name's lowest,not zero
  • A rank is a position in one registrar's list for one year.
  • Ranks from different countries are separate scales, so compare shapes, not numbers.
  • A rise in rank can be a small change in births, especially far down a list.
View as table
England and Wales · Girls rank by year
YearRank
1996#1296
1997#1543
1998#1165
1999#1107
2000#1389
2001#1439
2002#1442
2003#2191
2004#1715
2005#1690
2006#1502
2007#1443
2008#2292
2009#2535
2010#2235
2011#2275
2012#2717
2013#2649
2014#1882
2015#1865
2016#1834
2017#1371
2018#3178
2019#3541
2020#1687
2021#2711
2022#1849
2023#2689
2024#2115
2025#4867

VerifiedSource: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales.Confidence: high.

See all England and Wales names · Source: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales

What the data shows

FallingEngland and Wales · Girls

Recorded in official data among boys in Republic of Ireland in 39 of the 54 years from 1972 to 2025.

In 2024: #790 among girls in Scotland, #2115 among girls in England and Wales.

Official data from 4 national registrars across 4 regions, 1972–2025 · Office for National Statistics. Data sources

Year-by-year storyFirst recorded, most recent, each country and each decade

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1972

    First recorded at #279 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1972 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1972–2025

    Highest recorded position: #39 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 1972–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Full data tableEvery published rank and count

Popularity data

Official popularity data is available for 4 regions, from 1972 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #39 in Republic of Ireland in 2022.

Shay's recorded popularity observations by year, region and administrative category, including rank, registered births, source confidence and when each region's data was last reviewed.
YearRegionCategoryRankBirths registeredConfidenceStatus
2025England and Walesfemale#48674HighVerified
2025England and Walesmale#52973HighVerified
2024England and Walesfemale#211513HighVerified
2024England and Walesmale#389106HighVerified
2023England and Walesfemale#26899HighVerified
2023England and Walesmale#41595HighVerified
2022England and Walesfemale#184915HighVerified
2022England and Walesmale#399106HighVerified
2021England and Walesfemale#27119HighVerified
2021England and Walesmale#393110HighVerified
2020England and Walesfemale#168717HighVerified
2020England and Walesmale#398104HighVerified
2019England and Walesfemale#35416HighVerified
2019England and Walesmale#42697HighVerified
2018England and Walesfemale#31787HighVerified
2018England and Walesmale#366124HighVerified
2017England and Walesfemale#137124HighVerified
2017England and Walesmale#302166HighVerified
2016England and Walesfemale#183416HighVerified
2016England and Walesmale#344136HighVerified
2015England and Walesfemale#186515HighVerified
2015England and Walesmale#262195HighVerified
2014England and Walesfemale#188215HighVerified
2014England and Walesmale#253204HighVerified
2013England and Walesfemale#26499HighVerified
2013England and Walesmale#247202HighVerified
2012England and Walesfemale#27179HighVerified
2012England and Walesmale#197282HighVerified
2011England and Walesfemale#227511HighVerified
2011England and Walesmale#206255HighVerified
2010England and Walesfemale#223511HighVerified
2010England and Walesmale#164338HighVerified
2009England and Walesfemale#25359HighVerified
2009England and Walesmale#184284HighVerified
2008England and Walesfemale#229210HighVerified
2008England and Walesmale#183264HighVerified
2007England and Walesfemale#144318HighVerified
2007England and Walesmale#166304HighVerified
2006England and Walesfemale#150216HighVerified
2006England and Walesmale#156316HighVerified
2005England and Walesfemale#169013HighVerified
2005England and Walesmale#161289HighVerified
2004England and Walesfemale#171512HighVerified
2004England and Walesmale#180228HighVerified
2003England and Walesfemale#21918HighVerified
2003England and Walesmale#189205HighVerified
2002England and Walesfemale#144213HighVerified
2002England and Walesmale#189182HighVerified
2001England and Walesfemale#143913HighVerified
2001England and Walesmale#259107HighVerified
2000England and Walesfemale#138913HighVerified
2000England and Walesmale#30291HighVerified
1999England and Walesfemale#110718HighVerified
1999England and Walesmale#29293HighVerified
1998England and Walesfemale#116517HighVerified
1998England and Walesmale#213147HighVerified
1997England and Walesfemale#154311HighVerified
1997England and Walesmale#28198HighVerified
1996England and Walesfemale#129614HighVerified
1996England and Walesmale#48937HighVerified
2024Northern Irelandmale#17712HighVerified
2023Northern Irelandmale#20010HighVerified
2022Northern Irelandmale#16313HighVerified
2021Northern Irelandmale#16614HighVerified
2020Northern Irelandmale#14217HighVerified
2019Northern Irelandmale#16914HighVerified
2018Northern Irelandmale#17114HighVerified
2017Northern Irelandmale#14019HighVerified
2016Northern Irelandmale#16615HighVerified
2015Northern Irelandmale#20111HighVerified
2014Northern Irelandmale#13521HighVerified
2013Northern Irelandmale#15317HighVerified
2012Northern Irelandmale#10629HighVerified
2011Northern Irelandmale#11126HighVerified
2010Northern Irelandmale#10331HighVerified
2009Northern Irelandmale#9334HighVerified
2008Northern Irelandmale#11626HighVerified
2007Northern Irelandmale#13122HighVerified
2006Northern Irelandmale#11025HighVerified
2005Northern Irelandmale#13118HighVerified
2004Northern Irelandmale#10326HighVerified
2003Northern Irelandmale#10025HighVerified
2002Northern Irelandmale#9625HighVerified
2001Northern Irelandmale#12317HighVerified
2000Northern Irelandmale#13613HighVerified
1999Northern Irelandmale#15810HighVerified
1998Northern Irelandmale#14413HighVerified
1997Northern Irelandmale#12915HighVerified
2025Republic of Irelandmale#52101HighVerified
2024Republic of Irelandmale#50107HighVerified
2023Republic of Irelandmale#53109HighVerified
2022Republic of Irelandfemale#9053HighVerified
2022Republic of Irelandmale#39152HighVerified
2021Republic of Irelandmale#52126HighVerified
2020Republic of Irelandmale#53117HighVerified
2019Republic of Irelandmale#63103HighVerified
2018Republic of Irelandmale#6598HighVerified
2017Republic of Irelandmale#8486HighVerified
2016Republic of Irelandmale#7888HighVerified
2015Republic of Irelandmale#7898HighVerified
2014Republic of Irelandmale#8397HighVerified
2013Republic of Irelandmale#76104HighVerified
2012Republic of Irelandmale#10369HighVerified
2011Republic of Irelandmale#10672HighVerified
2010Republic of Irelandmale#7899HighVerified
2009Republic of Irelandmale#9778HighVerified
2008Republic of Irelandmale#11963HighVerified
2007Republic of Irelandmale#13447HighVerified
2006Republic of Irelandmale#13242HighVerified
2005Republic of Irelandmale#15829HighVerified
2004Republic of Irelandmale#17122HighVerified
2003Republic of Irelandmale#18716HighVerified
2002Republic of Irelandmale#18517HighVerified
2001Republic of Irelandmale#20912HighVerified
2000Republic of Irelandmale#2746HighVerified
1999Republic of Irelandmale#2666HighVerified
1998Republic of Irelandmale#20310HighVerified
1997Republic of Irelandmale#20912HighVerified
1996Republic of Irelandmale#2955HighVerified
1994Republic of Irelandmale#2994HighVerified
1990Republic of Irelandmale#3233HighVerified
1987Republic of Irelandmale#3033HighVerified
1985Republic of Irelandmale#3043HighVerified
1984Republic of Irelandmale#3183HighVerified
1980Republic of Irelandmale#3213HighVerified
1977Republic of Irelandmale#2934HighVerified
1975Republic of Irelandmale#3213HighVerified
1972Republic of Irelandmale#2794HighVerified
2024Scotlandfemale#7903HighVerified
2024Scotlandmale#15529HighVerified

See methodology and data sources for how popularity data is collected and what "confidence" means.

Where Shay is officially recorded

4 official registrars have recorded Shay, between 1972 and 2025, in 39 of those 54 years. Each registrar publishes for its own population on its own methodology, so the positions below are each one country's own ranking and are not comparable with one another.

Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland: recorded in 2022Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1972Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1975Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1977Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1980Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1984Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1985Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1987Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1990Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1994Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1996Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1997Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1998Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1999Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2000Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2001Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2002Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2003Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2004Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2005Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2006Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2007Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2008Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2009Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2010Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2011Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2012Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2013Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2014Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2015Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2016Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2017Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2018Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2019Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2020Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2021Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2023Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2024Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2025Republic of Ireland: highest position in 2022England and WalesEngland and Wales: recorded in 1996England and Wales: recorded in 1997England and Wales: recorded in 1998England and Wales: recorded in 1999England and Wales: recorded in 2000England and Wales: recorded in 2001England and Wales: recorded in 2002England and Wales: recorded in 2003England and Wales: recorded in 2004England and Wales: recorded in 2005England and Wales: recorded in 2006England and Wales: recorded in 2007England and Wales: recorded in 2008England and Wales: recorded in 2009England and Wales: recorded in 2010England and Wales: recorded in 2011England and Wales: recorded in 2012England and Wales: recorded in 2013England and Wales: recorded in 2014England and Wales: recorded in 2015England and Wales: recorded in 2016England and Wales: recorded in 2017England and Wales: recorded in 2018England and Wales: recorded in 2019England and Wales: recorded in 2020England and Wales: recorded in 2021England and Wales: recorded in 2022England and Wales: recorded in 2023England and Wales: recorded in 2024England and Wales: recorded in 2025England and Wales: highest position in 2006Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland: recorded in 1997Northern Ireland: recorded in 1998Northern Ireland: recorded in 1999Northern Ireland: recorded in 2000Northern Ireland: recorded in 2001Northern Ireland: recorded in 2002Northern Ireland: recorded in 2003Northern Ireland: recorded in 2004Northern Ireland: recorded in 2005Northern Ireland: recorded in 2006Northern Ireland: recorded in 2007Northern Ireland: recorded in 2008Northern Ireland: recorded in 2009Northern Ireland: recorded in 2010Northern Ireland: recorded in 2011Northern Ireland: recorded in 2012Northern Ireland: recorded in 2013Northern Ireland: recorded in 2014Northern Ireland: recorded in 2015Northern Ireland: recorded in 2016Northern Ireland: recorded in 2017Northern Ireland: recorded in 2018Northern Ireland: recorded in 2019Northern Ireland: recorded in 2020Northern Ireland: recorded in 2021Northern Ireland: recorded in 2022Northern Ireland: recorded in 2023Northern Ireland: recorded in 2024Northern Ireland: highest position in 2009ScotlandScotland: recorded in 2024Scotland: highest position in 202419722025
Each mark is a year the registrar recorded the name; the diamond is that registrar's highest position. Gaps can mean a year was not published, not that the name went unused.
RegistrarRecordedYearsIts own highest position
Republic of Ireland1972–202539#39 in 2022
England and Wales1996–202530#156 in 2006
Northern Ireland1997–202428#93 in 2009
Scotland20241#155 in 2024

Its high point came 18 years earlier in England and Wales (2006) than in Scotland (2024).

No registrar recorded it for 3 years after 1980; it appears again in 1984.

Names measured beside itNeighbours, comparisons, related names and shared trajectories

What is known about Shay

How to read this
How often it is registered
Official record
4 official registrars, 1972–2025.
Meaning
Not established
Not researched yet.
Origin
Not established
Not researched yet.
Pronunciation
Not established
Not recorded yet.

A claim marked not established does not mean the name lacks a meaning or is not widely used — only that Namewise has not sourced and reviewed that content yet. Absence from a specific year or geography above does not prove zero use there either; official statistics only publish names above a minimum threshold.

Official popularity data is available for 4 regions, from 1972 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #39 in Republic of Ireland in 2022. Source data last verified 2026-07-21.