Shae

Shae is a unisex name derived from the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Séaghdha (meaning 'hawk-like'), which evolved into Shea, with the meaning "stately" related to its hawk origins. In Ireland, it's sometimes considered a shortened form of Seamus.

Shae gained popularity in English-speaking countries during the late 20th century, appreciated for its simple spelling and soft sound. It ranks near the bottom of the UK Top 1000 but has never ranked in the US Top 1000, though Shea did meander through the lower half of that list from 1970 until 2006.

Over 100 baby girls were named Shae in the US last year, versus about 25 baby boys. The gender gap is narrower with the Shea spelling -- about 250 girls to 150 boys -- whereas the Shay spelling was used for 250 girls and 120 boys.

Pronounced SHAY.

As of October 2026, Shae ranked #7120 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #1334 in 1990.