| Shai | Zion | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | gift | highest point; the holy hill of Jerusalem |
| Origin | hebrew | hebrew |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | SHY | ZY-un |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1917 |
| Peak year | 2023 (224) | 2023 (2,889) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 2,496 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Shai | Zion |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,177 | 15,693 |
| 2010s | 570 | 17,789 |
| 2000s | 354 | 11,635 |
| 1990s | 254 | 1,605 |
| 1980s | 80 | 86 |
| 1970s | 34 | 57 |
| 1910s | 0 | 6 |
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 Hebrew 'Tziyyon', the name of a hill in Jerusalem that came to stand for the city, the Promised Land and a place of peace. A long-standing biblical/geographic name now popular as a given name.
Zion is more popular than Shai today: about 2,496 US babies were given the name Zion in 2025, compared with 0 named Shai.
Shai means gift (hebrew origin), while Zion means highest point; the holy hill of Jerusalem (hebrew origin).
In US records, Shai first appears in 0 and Zion in 1917, so Shai has the longer recorded history.