Shea
Boy name · #1549 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Shea? In official American birth records, Shea has been tracked continuously since 1954, giving it 71 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 111 baby boys were named Shea, placing it at #1549 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1599, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 16,216 boys born in 2025 was named Shea.
The 71-year story
Shea first appears in the Social Security records in 1954, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1986, when 280 boys were named Shea — good for #529 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.
Babies named Shea per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Shea against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Shea in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Shea is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Shea will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Shea is most common
Geography matters for names, and Shea is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Shea is most common in NY (0.4 per 1,000), NJ (0.3 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Shea is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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 Shay, Stefan, Dane, Deon, and Rico.
ShayStefanDaneDeonRicoLamarCortezNestor
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Shea | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 111 | #1547 |
| 2024 | 120 | #1494 |
| 2023 | 144 | #1323 |
| 2022 | 124 | #1457 |
| 2021 | 138 | #1339 |
| 2020 | 112 | #1503 |
| 2019 | 124 | #1413 |
| 2018 | 117 | #1478 |
| 2017 | 127 | #1384 |
| 2016 | 102 | #1599 |
| 2015 | 100 | #1599 |
| 2014 | 106 | #1514 |
| 2013 | 105 | #1528 |
| 2012 | 127 | #1336 |
| 2011 | 148 | #1193 |
| 2010 | 123 | #1372 |
| 2009 | 159 | #1148 |
| 2008 | 133 | #1303 |
| 2007 | 167 | #1092 |
| 2006 | 189 | #980 |
| 2005 | 183 | #953 |
| 2004 | 195 | #888 |
| 2003 | 205 | #845 |
| 2002 | 221 | #781 |
| 2001 | 187 | #858 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Shea?
In official American birth records, the name Shea first appeared in 1954 (over 71 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 71 years.
Is Shea a popular boy name?
Shea ranked #1549 among boys in 2025 with 111 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1599.
When was the name Shea most popular?
Shea peaked in 1986, when 280 American boys received the name (ranked #529 that year). Since 1986 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Shea?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 16,216 newborn American boys was named Shea. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.