How Many People Are Named Shi?
Complete statistics for the name Shi: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Shi is a name with roots in multiple cultures, most notably Chinese and Japanese, where it can carry meanings like "poetry" or "stone." There are roughly 404 people with this name living in the US today, which means about 1 in 815,843 Americans share it. It's a genuinely modern name that peaked in 2001 with 28 births and has been slowly declining since.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life-path number 9 traditionally represents compassion, humanitarianism, and wisdom. It's associated with people who are deeply empathetic and drawn to serving others, often possessing a broad worldview and generous spirit.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 27All 412 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 2001Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Shi Through the Generations
Shi didn't appear on American birth records in any meaningful way until the late 1990s, and it's very much a product of the modern era. With only 412 total births recorded in the US, this name has never broken into mainstream popularity. The peak came in 2001, when 28 babies received the name, a small but notable high point. Since then, usage has been slowly declining. The age breakdown tells a clear story: 254 of the 404 living bearers are under 30, while 158 fall between 30 and 60, and there aren't any over 60. That means a striking 62% of people named Shi are under 30, confirming it's a newer-generation pick. The average bearer is just 27 years old. Globally, the picture looks quite different. Shi ranks #16,353 worldwide with 57,794 living bearers, and it's most common in Japan. So while it's very rare in the US, it carries far more weight internationally.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
📄 About the Name Shi
How Many People Have the Name Shi?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 17,207 people in the United States currently share the name Shi. That works out to roughly 1 in every 19,262 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Shi a Common or Rare Name?
Shi is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Shi Mean?
Shi means "Poetry or stone" and comes from Chinese origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 9.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Shi in SSA data, approximately 19% are male and 81% are female.
When Was Shi Most Popular?
The name Shi reached peak popularity in 2001, with 28 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Shi?
Approximately 17,207 people named Shi live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 17,207. That works out to roughly 1 in 19,262 Americans.
Is Shi a rare name?
Shi is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 19,262 Americans has this name.
What does the name Shi mean?
Shi means "Poetry or stone" and comes from Chinese origins.
Is Shi more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 19% of people named Shi are male and 81% are female.
When was Shi most popular?
Shi peaked in 2001 with 28 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.