Declining since 1996.
Popularity of Shi since 1974
Babies named Shi per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 42 | 0 |
| 1980s | 20 | 5 |
| 1990s | 104 | 21 |
| 2000s | 115 | 32 |
| 2010s | 40 | 22 |
| 2020s | 11 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Shi is a rare name in the United States, first recorded in 1974 but never reaching a top-1000 rank. Its peak year of use was 2001, and it has been declining since 1996. The name's trajectory indicates a falling trend, with no states reporting significant usage. Shi likely emerged as a modern, cross-cultural choice, possibly influenced by Chinese names or as a simple, vowel-like sound. Its rarity and pattern of quick rise and fall suggest it was a niche favorite rather than a mainstream option.
Shi is a short, phonetically simple name that gained some modern use in English-speaking countries beginning in the late 20th century. It may be a respelling of the Chinese name 诗 (shī, meaning 'poem') or 狮 (shī, meaning 'lion'), or it could be a creative variation of names like Shea or Shiloh. Its rise in rarity and subsequent decline suggest it was a brief fashion rather than a name with deep historical roots.
Sibling names for Shi
Names that share Shi's style, for a brother or sister.
