Shamus
Boy name · American · Celtic Gaelic · Irish · Scottish
Meaningsupplanter · Irish form of James
- US rank
- #8,243
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #1,160 in 1975
9 babies were named Shamus in the US in 2025. It has climbed 2,362 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1959–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Shamus you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 188,679 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Shamus, 9 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Shamus would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryShamus first shows up in US birth records in 1959, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 66 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1975, when it ranked #1,160. Today it's #8,243, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowShamus was 4.2× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 44,643 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 188,679.
- TrendShamus has climbed 2,362 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #8,243. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningShamus is an Irish form of James, which means “supplanter”. Our records link it to American, Celtic Gaelic and Irish roots.
About the name Shamus
Shamus is a boy name of American, Celtic Gaelic and Irish origin meaning “supplanter”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with S and ending in “-mus”. US birth records list Shamus for boys from 1959 to 2025, in 61 of those 67 years. Its best year was 1975, when it ranked #1,160 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #8,243, with 9 babies.
Origin:American namesCeltic Gaelic namesIrish namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.3 | 303,030 boys |
| 1960s | 2.1 | 467,290 boys |
| 1970s | 21 | 47,824 boys |
| 1980s | 15 | 65,617 boys |
| 1990s | 18 | 55,340 boys |
| 2000s | 25 | 39,952 boys |
| 2010s | 12 | 86,133 boys |
| 2020s | 4.1 | 245,902 boys |
More American boy names
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: Maverick · independent, unbranded
- Unisex name: Kai · sea
- Unisex name: Jace · healer
- Boy name: Jaxon · son of Jack
- Boy name: Milo · possibly gracious
- Boy name: Bryson · son of Brice
- Boy name: Louis · famous warrior
Questions about the name Shamus
What does the name Shamus mean?
Shamus means “supplanter” in Irish, as a form of James.
What is the origin of the name Shamus?
Shamus has American, Celtic Gaelic, Irish, Scottish roots in our records. Other American names include Henry, Maverick, Kai.
Is Shamus a boy or girl name?
Shamus is a boy name.
How popular is the name Shamus?
Shamus ranked #8,243 for US boys in 2025, given to 9 babies. Its best year was 1975 (#1,160).