Shea
Girl name · #1153 in 2025 · Uniqueness 64/100
Shea ranks #1153 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 201 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1275, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,955 girls born in 2025 was named Shea.
Babies named Shea per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 75-year story
Shea first appears in the Social Security records in 1950, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2005, when 348 girls were named Shea — good for #763 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Shea against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Shea in class?
Shea scores 64 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Shea is most common
Geography matters for names, and Shea is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Sheas were NY (31), MA (21), CA (16), NJ (15), PA (15). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Shea
Statistically, parents drawn to Shea tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ayana, Asha, Savanna, Rebeca, and Shira.
AyanaAshaSavannaRebecaShiraLinneaDaniaKeila
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Shea | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 201 | #1150 |
| 2024 | 201 | #1188 |
| 2023 | 247 | #1024 |
| 2022 | 245 | #1043 |
| 2021 | 242 | #1042 |
| 2020 | 207 | #1145 |
| 2019 | 205 | #1164 |
| 2018 | 195 | #1210 |
| 2017 | 184 | #1282 |
| 2016 | 234 | #1098 |
| 2015 | 191 | #1275 |
| 2014 | 206 | #1186 |
| 2013 | 197 | #1220 |
| 2012 | 171 | #1364 |
| 2011 | 172 | #1345 |
| 2010 | 199 | #1218 |
| 2009 | 252 | #1032 |
| 2008 | 278 | #962 |
| 2007 | 293 | #923 |
| 2006 | 296 | #897 |
| 2005 | 348 | #763 |
| 2004 | 329 | #784 |
| 2003 | 318 | #778 |
| 2002 | 294 | #796 |
| 2001 | 327 | #734 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Shea a popular girl name?
Shea ranked #1153 among girls in 2025 with 201 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1275.
When was the name Shea most popular?
Shea peaked in 2005, when 348 American girls received the name (ranked #763 that year). Since 2005 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Shea?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,955 newborn American girls was named Shea. It scores 64/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.