Shiah
Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It is rooted in the belief that the Islamic prophet Muhammad explicitly designated his cousin and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib as his rightful political successor (caliph) and the divinely guided spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam).
Meaning & Origin of Shiah
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It is rooted in the belief that the Islamic prophet Muhammad explicitly designated his cousin and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib as his rightful political successor (caliph) and the divinely guided spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam).
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Shiah
As a girl name
Shiah first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2006, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2009, when 14 Shiahs were born — ranking #8,452 that year. As of 2026, Shiah ranks #13,427 for girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 124 Shiahs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Shiah first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2008, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2024, when 9 Shiahs were born — ranking #8,287 that year. As of 2026, Shiah ranks #8,287 for boys with 9 births, gradually rising (+11%). In total, more than 81 Shiahs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Shiah
Phonetically similar names — useful when Shiah 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 Shiah
What does the name Shiah mean?
How popular is Shiah in 2026?
When was Shiah most popular?
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About the name Shiah
Shiah is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2006 and has accumulated 124 births in the dataset. Shiah's peak popularity came in 2009 when it ranked #8,452. Use the chart and map above to compare Shiah's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2009 →
- 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.