Shi
Chinese surnames are used by Han Chinese and Sinicized ethnic groups in Greater China, Korea, Vietnam and among overseas Chinese communities around the world such as Singapore and Malaysia. Chinese names begin with surnames, unlike the Western tradition in which surnames are given last.
Meaning & Origin of Shi
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Chinese surnames are used by Han Chinese and Sinicized ethnic groups in Greater China, Korea, Vietnam and among overseas Chinese communities around the world such as Singapore and Malaysia. Chinese names begin with surnames, unlike the Western tradition in which surnames are given last.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Shi
As a girl name
Shi first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1974, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2001, when 19 Shis were born — ranking #5,821 that year. As of 2026, Shi ranks #13,584 for girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 332 Shis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Shi first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1980, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2015, when 11 Shis were born — ranking #7,066 that year. As of 2026, Shi ranks #7,066 for boys with 11 births, with steady use. In total, more than 80 Shis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Shi
Phonetically similar names — useful when Shi 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 Shi
What does the name Shi mean?
How popular is Shi in 2026?
When was Shi most popular?
In which U.S. states is Shi most popular?
Is Shi a unisex name?
What names go well with Shi?
About the name Shi
Shi is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1974 and has accumulated 332 births in the dataset. Shi's peak popularity came in 2001 when it ranked #5,821. Use the chart and map above to compare Shi's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2001 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "S" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.