How old is someone named Shay?
The average Shay is 27 years old.
Half of all living Shays are between 11 and 40.
When was Shay popular?
Shay is a modern favorite: it climbed through the 2000s and hit its high in 2021. 261 babies got the name in 2025.
Popular names of 2021 · The most popular names of the 2020s →
Show the numbers by decade
| Born in | Babies born | Alive today |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 | 0 |
| 1950s | 70 | under 100 |
| 1960s | 451 | 390 |
| 1970s | 1,812 | 1,700 |
| 1980s | 1,913 | 1,800 |
| 1990s | 2,595 | 2,500 |
| 2000s | 2,176 | 2,100 |
| 2010s | 2,141 | 2,100 |
| 2020s | 2,088 | 2,100 |
How many Shays are still alive?
About 13,000 Shays are alive in the US today. That's 97% of the roughly 13,000 babies named Shay since 1932.
Nearly every Shay ever born is still alive, because almost all of them are young.
What generation is the name Shay?
About one in four living Shays are in Gen Alpha, born in 2013 or later.
- Boomer 2%
- Gen X 17%
- Millennial 27%
- Gen Z 26%
- Gen Alpha 29%
Is Shay an old name?
Not really. Shay is younger than 54 in 100 names on AgeByName.
Looking ahead: if babies keep getting the name at today's pace, the typical Shay will be 37 in 2056, so the name is aging slowly.
Is Shay a boy or girl name?
Both. 63% of living Shays are women and 37% are men.
The women average 26 and the men 29.
Names the same age as Shay
NAME TWIN
Shay's name twin is Kori. Of all 3,713 names on AgeByName, Kori's age curve is the closest match to Shay's: 90% alike.
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Questions about the name Shay
How old is the average Shay?
The average Shay in the US is 27 years old. The median is 27, so half are older and half younger.
How many people are named Shay?
About 13,000 Shays are alive in the US today, out of roughly 13,000 babies given the name since 1932.
When was the name Shay most popular?
In 2021, when about 410 baby girls were named Shay.
Is Shay a Gen Alpha name?
Partly. Gen Alpha are the largest group, about 29% of living Shays, but the name spans several generations.
Is Shay a boy or girl name?
Both. 63% of living Shays are women and 37% are men. The women average 26 and the men 29.
Estimates from Social Security Administration baby-name records (births 1880–2025) and SSA cohort life tables (2026 Trustees Report). Updated each spring. How we calculate this