shay

Shay is used as a given name and a surname. As a given name, it is commonly unisex in English-speaking countries and is used independently or as a short form of longer names. In Hebrew-speaking or Jewish naming contexts, Shay is often linked to Shai, meaning "gift," and the spelling Shay has become a common English rendering. The name has also been adopted in various cultures simply for its phonetic appeal.

As a surname, Shay occurs in some families and may be related to other surnames such as Shea or O'Shea, though specific lineages vary by individual family history.

Notable people with the given name Shay include Shay Mitchell, a Canadian actress known for the TV series Pretty Little Liars, and Shay Carl, an American YouTuber and founder of the Shaytards. The surname Shay appears in various professions but is less widely documented in general reference sources.

Given its cross-cultural use, Shay is often encountered in popular culture, media, and academia as a concise, modern given name. It also appears in fictional works as a character name.

See also: Shai, Shea, Shayne, Shea (surname).