Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 2001

Shi

Gender Unisex · 81% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Shi
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
2001
28 babies
All-time total
412
#15,083 all-time among girls
First recorded
1974
in Social Security records

Shi popularity over time

412 babies have been named Shi since 1974, 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
00.010.010.0218801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
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 42 – 42 4 – #5,452
1980s 20 5 25 3 -40% #7,930
1990s 104 21 125 13 +400% #6,019
2000s 115 32 147 15 +18% #6,034
2010s 40 22 62 6 -58% #10,369
2020s (to 2025) 11 – 11 2 -70% #15,056

The story of Shi

Shi 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 1974, 412 American babies have been named Shi, about 81% girls and 19% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2001, when 28 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

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

How old are people named Shi?

The median living Shi is about 24 years old; half are between 18 and 32. An estimated 400 people named Shi are alive in the United States today.

median 24 020406080100

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

Shi 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 6 #15,056 – –
2021 – – – –
2020 5 #17,163 – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – – –
2017 7 #13,901 – –
2016 – – – –
2015 – – 11 #7,442
2014 9 #11,814 5 #13,751
2013 – – 6 #11,936
2012 6 #16,560 – –
2011 7 #14,629 – –
2010 11 #10,369 – –
2009 8 #13,511 – –
2008 8 #13,634 6 #12,321
2007 12 #10,055 7 #10,725
2006 9 #12,282 – –
2005 8 #12,845 – –
2004 16 #7,344 5 #12,942
2003 9 #11,200 – –
2002 13 #8,220 5 #12,224
2001 19 #6,034 9 #7,425
2000 13 #7,970 – –
1995 13 #6,981 9 #6,336
1990 6 #12,712 5 #9,303
1985 – – – –
1980 7 #8,935 5 #7,147
1975 11 #5,452 – –
1970 – – – –
1965 – – – –
1960 – – – –
1955 – – – –
1950 – – – –
1945 – – – –
1940 – – – –
1935 – – – –
1930 – – – –
1925 – – – –
1920 – – – –
1915 – – – –
1910 – – – –
1905 – – – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Famous people named Shi

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

  1. 1 Shi Pei Pu Chinese spy and opera singer (1938–2009) Contemporary
  2. 2 Shi Zhengli Chinese researcher at the Wuhan Institute of Virology b. 1964 · Contemporary
  3. 3 Shi Le Shi Le Emperor of Later Zhao from 330 to 333 274–333 · Antiquity
  4. 4 Shi Lang Shi Lang 17th-century Chinese naval officer 1621–1696 · 17th century
  5. 5 Shi Nai'an Shi Nai'an Chinese writer (c. 1296 – c. 1372) Medieval
  6. 6 Shi Jinglin Shi Jinglin Chinese swimmer b. 1993 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Shi?

The median living Shi is about 24 years old. Half of all living Shis are between 18 and 32 years old.

How many people named Shi are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Shi are alive in the United States, based on 412 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Shi in 2025?

Shi 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 Shi?

412 babies have been named Shi in the United States since 1974, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shi most popular?

Shi peaked in 2001, when 28 newborns received the name.

Is Shi a boy or girl name?

Shi is used for both: about 81% of babies named Shi have been girls and 19% boys.

Is the name Shi rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Shi?

Well-known people named Shi include Shi Pei Pu (singer), Shi Zhengli (biologist), Shi Le (politician).

Names like Shi

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

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