Shiah

Meaning & origin

Shiah is a modern, rare name that first appeared on U.S. records in 2006. Its popularity peaked in 2009, but after a dip, it has been steadily rising since 2015. In 2025, it ranked 14,942 with an incidence of 1 in 321,453 births. The name is used for both genders, reflecting a trend toward inventive, gender-neutral names. Its origins are unclear; it may be a creative respelling of Shia or a sound-based coinage. The name has not broken into the top baby names in any state, remaining a niche choice. Parents drawn to Shiah often appreciate its simplicity and modern feel.

Shiah is a modern, invented name first recorded in the United States in 2006. It likely emerged as a respelling of the name Shia (which itself has multiple proposed origins, including a variant of the Hebrew name Shai or an Anglicization of the Irish name Siobhán), or as a creative spelling of the word 'shy'. Its usage has grown modestly, especially since 2015, and it is given to both boys and girls, though slightly more often to girls.