| Jordan | Shai | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | To flow down, descend | gift |
| Origin | hebrew | hebrew |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | JOR-dan | SHY |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 0 |
| Peak year | 1990 (16,137) | 2023 (224) |
| In 2025 | 2,732 | 0 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Jordan | Shai |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 21,955 | 1,177 |
| 2010s | 64,530 | 570 |
| 2000s | 101,187 | 354 |
| 1990s | 144,756 | 254 |
| 1980s | 57,172 | 80 |
| 1970s | 5,449 | 34 |
| 1960s | 1,851 | 0 |
| 1950s | 1,189 | 0 |
| 1940s | 690 | 0 |
| 1930s | 770 | 0 |
| 1920s | 854 | 0 |
| 1910s | 395 | 0 |
| 1900s | 123 | 0 |
| 1890s | 117 | 0 |
| 1880s | 158 | 0 |
From the River Jordan, Hebrew Yarden, derived from the root y-r-d 'to go down, descend, flow down' - describing the river's descent. Long used as a given name, originally for those baptised in or with water from the Jordan.
From Hebrew shai 'gift'. The 'gift' meaning is widely cited, though the origin is disputed: some sources derive the name instead as a diminutive of Yeshayahu (Isaiah), 'God is salvation'.
Jordan is more popular than Shai today: about 2,732 US babies were given the name Jordan in 2025, compared with 0 named Shai.
Jordan means To flow down, descend (hebrew origin), while Shai means gift (hebrew origin).
In US records, Jordan first appears in 1880 and Shai in 0, so Shai has the longer recorded history.