Shia
Girl name · #4227 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Shia? In official American birth records, Shia has been tracked continuously since 1993, giving it 32 years of documented American history.
Shia is currently the #4227 girl name in the United States — 34 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #4981, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 52,941 girls born in 2025 was named Shia.
Babies named Shia per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 32-year story
Shia first appears in the Social Security records in 1993, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 88 girls were named Shia — good for #2234 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 Shia against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Shia in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Shia is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Shia will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Shia is most common
State-level data for Shia is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Shia
Statistically, parents drawn to Shia tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jaia, Saria, Kamia, Jazaria, and Saya.
JaiaSariaKamiaJazariaSayaShriyaSamyraYulia
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Shia | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | #4172 |
| 2024 | 54 | #3013 |
| 2023 | 48 | #3329 |
| 2022 | 50 | #3220 |
| 2021 | 52 | #3112 |
| 2020 | 48 | #3221 |
| 2019 | 33 | #4260 |
| 2018 | 43 | #3559 |
| 2017 | 26 | #5045 |
| 2016 | 35 | #4157 |
| 2015 | 27 | #4981 |
| 2014 | 37 | #4003 |
| 2013 | 43 | #3573 |
| 2012 | 33 | #4387 |
| 2011 | 59 | #2909 |
| 2010 | 59 | #2906 |
| 2009 | 81 | #2375 |
| 2008 | 88 | #2234 |
| 2007 | 37 | #4131 |
| 2006 | 27 | #5086 |
| 2005 | 27 | #4828 |
| 2004 | 33 | #4172 |
| 2003 | 42 | #3412 |
| 2002 | 19 | #5897 |
| 2001 | 13 | #7724 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Shia?
In official American birth records, the name Shia first appeared in 1993 (over 32 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 32 years.
Is Shia a popular girl name?
Shia ranked #4227 among girls in 2025 with 34 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4981.
When was the name Shia most popular?
Shia peaked in 2008, when 88 American girls received the name (ranked #2234 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Shia?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 52,941 newborn American girls was named Shia. 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.