Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1971

Shad

Gender Boy Rank 2025 #8,799
Rank 2025
#8,799
among boys
Babies in 2025
9
named Shad
How common
1 in 189,786
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1971
406 babies
All-time total
4,831
#1,819 all-time among boys
First recorded
1940
in Social Security records

Shad popularity over time

4,831 babies have been named Shad since 1940, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.060.130.190.2518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1972Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s 5 1 – #3,868
1950s 21 2 +320% #2,793
1960s 388 39 +1748% #792
1970s 2,582 258 +565% #402
1980s 726 73 -72% #812
1990s 538 54 -26% #1,451
2000s 338 34 -37% #1,962
2010s 182 18 -46% #3,499
2020s (to 2025) 51 9 -53% #6,170

The story of Shad

Shad is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #8,799 in 2025 with 9 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1940, 4,831 American babies have been named Shad. Its peak came in 1971, when 406 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Shad stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shad?

The median living Shad is about 48 years old; half are between 36 and 53. An estimated 4,500 people named Shad are alive in the United States today.

median 48 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Shad year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 9 #8,799
2024 – –
2023 15 #6,170
2022 8 #9,695
2021 8 #9,552
2020 11 #7,417
2019 11 #7,556
2018 16 #5,737
2017 14 #6,282
2016 15 #6,010
2015 26 #4,059
2014 20 #4,838
2013 17 #5,355
2012 18 #5,209
2011 31 #3,499
2010 14 #6,311
2009 19 #5,071
2008 37 #3,155
2007 21 #4,616
2006 30 #3,513
2005 39 #2,796
2004 32 #3,144
2003 32 #3,034
2002 38 #2,594
2001 37 #2,609
2000 53 #1,962
1995 56 #1,644
1990 54 #1,558
1985 65 #1,166
1980 118 #812
1975 261 #496
1970 175 #615
1965 41 #1,203
1960 7 #3,612
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 5 #3,868
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Shad

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Shad Gaspard Shad Gaspard American wrestler and actor (1981–2020) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Shad, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Shad?

The median living Shad is about 48 years old. Half of all living Shads are between 36 and 53 years old.

How many people named Shad are alive today?

An estimated 4,500 people named Shad are alive in the United States, based on 4,831 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Shad in 2025?

Shad ranked #8,799 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 9 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Shad?

4,831 babies have been named Shad in the United States since 1940, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shad most popular?

Shad peaked in 1971, when 406 newborns received the name.

Is Shad a boy or girl name?

Shad is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Shad rising or falling?

Shad is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Shad?

Well-known people named Shad include Shad Gaspard (wrestler).

Names like Shad

Names that sound and feel close to Shad: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Shad with similar names → More names starting with S →