Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1985

Sheng

Gender Girl · 4% boys Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Sheng
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1985
29 babies
All-time total
386
#14,167 all-time among girls
First recorded
1980
in Social Security records

Sheng popularity over time

386 babies have been named Sheng since 1980, 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
0.010.010.020.0218801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys

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 Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – – – –
1890s – – – – – –
1900s – – – – – –
1910s – – – – – –
1920s – – – – – –
1930s – – – – – –
1940s – – – – – –
1950s – – – – – –
1960s – – – – – –
1970s – – – – – –
1980s 172 6 178 18 – #3,539
1990s 166 5 171 17 -4% #3,924
2000s 32 – 32 3 -81% #15,064
2010s – 5 5 1 -84% –
2020s (to 2025) – – – – – –

The story of Sheng

Sheng is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1980, 386 American babies have been named Sheng. Its peak came in 1985, when 29 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

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 Sheng stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Sheng?

The median living Sheng is about 35 years old; half are between 30 and 39. An estimated 400 people named Sheng are alive in the United States today.

median 35 020406080100

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

Sheng 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 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 – – – –
2022 – – – –
2021 – – – –
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – – –
2017 – – – –
2016 – – 5 #13,891
2015 – – – –
2014 – – – –
2013 – – – –
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – – –
2007 – – – –
2006 5 #19,612 – –
2005 5 #18,757 – –
2004 5 #18,391 – –
2003 6 #15,477 – –
2002 – – – –
2001 6 #15,064 – –
2000 5 #17,206 – –
1995 21 #4,822 – –
1990 23 #4,358 – –
1985 23 #3,714 6 #6,413
1980 8 #8,042 – –
1975 – – – –
1970 – – – –
1965 – – – –
1960 – – – –
1955 – – – –
1950 – – – –
1945 – – – –
1940 – – – –
1935 – – – –
1930 – – – –
1925 – – – –
1920 – – – –
1915 – – – –
1910 – – – –
1905 – – – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Famous people named Sheng

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

  1. 1 Sheng Shicai Sheng Shicai Chinese warlord (1895–1970) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Sheng?

The median living Sheng is about 35 years old. Half of all living Shengs are between 30 and 39 years old.

How many people named Sheng are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Sheng are alive in the United States, based on 386 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Sheng in 2025?

Sheng did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Sheng?

386 babies have been named Sheng in the United States since 1980, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Sheng most popular?

Sheng peaked in 1985, when 29 newborns received the name.

Is Sheng a boy or girl name?

Sheng is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 96% of babies with the name.

Is the name Sheng rising or falling?

Sheng has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Sheng?

Well-known people named Sheng include Sheng Shicai (politician).

Names like Sheng

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

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