Shade
Every Shade since 1880 — 2,025 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Shade
Shade is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #7,595 in 2025 with 11 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 2,025 American babies have been named Shade — about 57% boys and 43% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1993, when 88 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
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 Shade stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Shade year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | #14,675 | 11 | #7,595 |
| 2024 | 5 | #17,310 | 17 | #5,617 |
| 2023 | — | — | 19 | #5,217 |
| 2022 | — | — | 14 | #6,420 |
| 2021 | — | — | 19 | #5,082 |
| 2020 | 6 | #14,846 | 14 | #6,235 |
| 2019 | 5 | #17,600 | 19 | #5,123 |
| 2018 | 5 | #17,744 | 20 | #4,894 |
| 2017 | — | — | 20 | #4,908 |
| 2016 | — | — | 14 | #6,296 |
| 2015 | 5 | #18,701 | 22 | #4,525 |
| 2014 | — | — | 12 | #6,988 |
| 2013 | — | — | 19 | #4,946 |
| 2012 | 5 | #19,113 | 26 | #3,988 |
| 2011 | 9 | #12,000 | 18 | #5,162 |
| 2010 | 10 | #11,123 | 21 | #4,650 |
| 2009 | 7 | #14,985 | 18 | #5,275 |
| 2008 | 12 | #9,980 | 26 | #4,016 |
| 2007 | 10 | #11,496 | 28 | #3,775 |
| 2006 | 9 | #12,261 | 24 | #4,081 |
| 2005 | 19 | #6,495 | 21 | #4,306 |
| 2004 | 8 | #12,558 | 15 | #5,444 |
| 2003 | 23 | #5,383 | 20 | #4,253 |
| 2002 | 21 | #5,640 | 17 | #4,670 |
| 2001 | 32 | #4,016 | 18 | #4,437 |
| 2000 | 35 | #3,717 | 21 | #3,892 |
| 1995 | 36 | #3,206 | 25 | #2,909 |
| 1990 | 35 | #3,212 | 11 | #4,937 |
| 1985 | 33 | #2,847 | 6 | #6,404 |
| 1980 | — | — | 6 | #6,120 |
| 1975 | — | — | 8 | #4,247 |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | 5 | #4,124 |
| 1945 | — | — | 6 | #3,283 |
| 1940 | — | — | 5 | #3,869 |
| 1935 | — | — | 5 | #4,078 |
| 1930 | — | — | 10 | #2,762 |
| 1925 | — | — | 9 | #3,119 |
| 1920 | — | — | 5 | #4,877 |
| 1915 | — | — | 12 | #2,284 |
| 1910 | — | — | 6 | #1,560 |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | 5 | #1,138 |
| 1885 | — | — | 7 | #825 |
| 1880 | — | — | 8 | #737 |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Shade in 2025?
Shade ranked #7,595 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 11 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Shade?
2,025 babies have been named Shade in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Shade most popular?
Shade peaked in 1993, when 88 newborns received the name.
Is Shade a boy or girl name?
Shade is used for both: about 43% of babies named Shade have been girls and 57% boys.
Is the name Shade rising or falling?
Shade has been roughly stable over the past decade.