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
The earliest SSA record of Shiah as a girl name dates back to 2006, when 5 babies received it. 2009 was its biggest year on record, with 14 newborns named Shiah — #8,452 in the national rankings. About 48% of every Shiah on record arrived during the 2010s, its defining decade. Shiah last appeared in the published SSA data in 2024, with 6 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 124 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 2000s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Shiah as a boy name dates back to 2008, when 6 babies received it. 2024 was its biggest year on record, with 9 newborns named Shiah — #8,287 in the national rankings. About 44% of every Shiah on record arrived during the 2010s, its defining decade. Shiah last appeared in the published SSA data in 2024, with 9 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 81 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 2000s to 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?
Is Shiah a unisex name?
What names go well with Shiah?
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.