| Shai | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | gift | To flow down, descend |
| Origin | hebrew | hebrew |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | SHY | JOR-dan |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2023 (224) | 1990 (16,137) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 2,732 |
| Trend | Rising | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Shai | Jordan |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,177 | 21,955 |
| 2010s | 570 | 64,530 |
| 2000s | 354 | 101,187 |
| 1990s | 254 | 144,756 |
| 1980s | 80 | 57,172 |
| 1970s | 34 | 5,449 |
| 1960s | 0 | 1,851 |
| 1950s | 0 | 1,189 |
| 1940s | 0 | 690 |
| 1930s | 0 | 770 |
| 1920s | 0 | 854 |
| 1910s | 0 | 395 |
| 1900s | 0 | 123 |
| 1890s | 0 | 117 |
| 1880s | 0 | 158 |
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'.
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.
Jordan is more popular than Shai today: about 2,732 US babies were given the name Jordan in 2025, compared with 0 named Shai.
Shai means gift (hebrew origin), while Jordan means To flow down, descend (hebrew origin).
In US records, Shai first appears in 0 and Jordan in 1880, so Shai has the longer recorded history.