Shaw
Gender-neutral name · English · Irish
Meaningsmall wood · English
- US rank
- #4,707
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #1,692 in 1974
21 babies were named Shaw in the US in 2025. It has dropped 1,727 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1969–2025
US births per million boys, 1914–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Shaw you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 81,301 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Shaw, 21 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Shaw would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryShaw first shows up in US birth records in 1914, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 111 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1974, when it reached #1,692.
- TrendShaw has slipped 1,727 places over the last five years and now sits at #4,707. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Boy or girlShaw is given to both boys and girls: 78% of the 27 babies named Shaw in 2025 were boys. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningIn English, Shaw means “small wood”. Our records link it to English and Irish roots.
About the name Shaw
Shaw is a gender-neutral name of English and Irish origin meaning “small wood”. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, starting with S and ending in “-haw”. US birth records list Shaw for boys from 1914 to 2025, in 72 of those 112 years. Its best year was 1974, when it ranked #1,692 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #4,707, with 21 babies. Of the 27 US babies named Shaw in 2025, 22% were girls and 78% were boys.
Origin:English namesIrish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.0 | 333,333 girls |
| 1970s | 1.0 | 1,020,408 girls |
| 2000s | 0.3 | 3,125,000 girls |
| 2010s | 1.4 | 704,225 girls |
| 2020s | 1.1 | 882,353 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 1.5 | 652,174 boys |
| 1920s | 1.1 | 900,901 boys |
| 1930s | 0.5 | 2,222,222 boys |
| 1950s | 0.8 | 1,298,701 boys |
| 1960s | 3.8 | 261,780 boys |
| 1970s | 12 | 84,175 boys |
| 1980s | 9.7 | 103,306 boys |
| 1990s | 9.6 | 104,493 boys |
| 2000s | 10 | 97,466 boys |
| 2010s | 15 | 66,050 boys |
| 2020s | 17 | 58,594 boys |
More English names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
Questions about the name Shaw
What does the name Shaw mean?
Shaw means “small wood” in English.
What is the origin of the name Shaw?
Shaw has English, Irish roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Oliver.
Is Shaw a boy or girl name?
Both. Shaw is used for boys and girls: in 2025, 22% of US babies named Shaw were girls.
How popular is the name Shaw?
Shaw ranked #4,707 for US boys in 2025, given to 21 babies. Its best year was 1974 (#1,692).