Given name & surname
Shae
“a gift of God”·“a gift from God”·“of admirable character”
Shae is a variant of Shai. Interpretations include “a gift of God” and “a gift from God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions. Shae is a variant of Shea. Interpretations include “of admirable character”, “from the fairy palace”, “an admirable man”, and “from the fairy fortress”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Shae is a variant of Shai. Interpretations include “a gift of God” and “a gift from God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions. Shae is a variant of Shea. Interpretations include “of admirable character”, “from the fairy palace”, “an admirable man”, and “from the fairy fortress”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Shae is a variant of Shai. An origin associated with Shai is Hebrew. Shae is a variant of Shea. An origin associated with Shea is Irish.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1951. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Shae through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,694
- 1,629 boys · 6,065 girls
- Most popular year
- 1998
- 277 babies
- 2025
- 104
- #2,061 for girls · #7,120 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +14%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 16% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 92 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,061 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 8.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 227 in 1998. It also appeared in 12 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Pennsylvania had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (9). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,128 as a first name in 2020; 250 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Shae’s family of names
Shae has a related form in Shea. Shae has a related form in Shai.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Shae
- Shae-Lynn BourneCanadian ice dancer and choreographer (born 1976)
- Shay HaleyAmerican rapper, singer, songwriter, musician and record producerborn 1972
- Shae D'lynAmerican actressborn 1962
- Shae KelleyAmerican basketball player (born 1991)
- Shae MarksAmerican actress and modelborn 1972
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Shae, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Asha
“wish” · “desire”
1% boys · 99% girls
Clare
“one who is bright”
>99% girls
Essence
“a perfumed woman”
1% boys · 99% girls
Cheyenne
“unintelligible speaker”
1% boys · 99% girls
Yasmine
“resembling the jasmine flower”
>99% girls
Kaycee
“vigilant, wakeful” · “a vigilant woman”
15% boys · 85% girls
Salma
“one who is healthy and safe” · “one who is peaceful and safe”
>99% girls
Baylee
Baylee is a variant of Bailey. One English interpretation is “from the courtyard within castle walls; a public official.”
1% boys · 99% girls