Given name & surname · also Gaelic
Shai
“a gift of God”·“a gift from God”
Shai is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a gift of God” and “a gift from God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a gift of God” and “a gift from God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hebrew.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1968. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Shai through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,340
- 2,469 boys · 1,871 girls
- Most popular year
- 2023
- 340 babies
- 2025
- 293
- #1,032 for boys · #2,349 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +137%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 66% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 215 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,032 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 157.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 78 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (30). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,822 as a first name in 2020; 198 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.
Shai’s family of names
Shai has a related form in Shayla. Shai has a related form in Shea. Shai has a related form in Shea.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Shai
- Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderCanadian basketball player (born 1998)
- Shai PironIsraeli politicianborn 1965
- Shai MaestroIsraeli pianistborn 1987
- Shay AharonIsraeli footballerborn 1978
- Shye Ben TzurIsraeli singerborn 1975
- Shai KlapperIsraeli military officerborn 1976
- Shai WosnerIsraeli pianistborn 1976
- Shy Noblemanrock musician, singer, songwriter, producer, keyboardist, guitarist and actorborn 1974
- Shai LivnatIsraeli swimmerborn 1984
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Shai, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Azariah
“one who is helped by God”
52% boys · 48% girls
Shiloh
“one who is peaceful; abundant” · “he who was sent”
42% boys · 58% girls
Akari
61% boys · 39% girls
Micaiah
“who is like (Yahweh)?”
73% boys · 27% girls
Amari
“having great strength; a builder”
66% boys · 34% girls
Armani
“one who is desired; a goal”
56% boys · 44% girls
Bellamy
“a handsome friend”
49% boys · 51% girls
Kamari
Kamari is a masculine given name.
72% boys · 28% girls