Shad
The Alosidae, or the shads, are a family of clupeiform fishes. The family currently comprises four genera worldwide, and about 32 species.
Meaning & Origin of Shad
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
The Alosidae, or the shads, are a family of clupeiform fishes. The family currently comprises four genera worldwide, and about 32 species.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Shad
Shad first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1940, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1971, when 406 Shads were born — ranking #403 that year. As of 2026, Shad ranks #6,465 for baby boys with 13 births, holding steady (+2%). In total, more than 5K Shads have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Shad
Phonetically similar names — useful when Shad is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shad
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About the name Shad
Shad is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1940 and has accumulated 5K births in the dataset. Shad's peak popularity came in 1971 when it ranked #402. Use the chart and map above to compare Shad's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1971 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "S" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.