UK girl's name
Shaylei
A feminine name of uncertain origin, potentially a variant of Shelly.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shaylei is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Shaylei popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5876, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2009 to 2012. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Shaylei. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shaylei ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 3 girls were registered as Shaylei.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shaylei as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5876
2012
Births in 2012
3
Latest year
Peak year
2009
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Shaylei mean?
The given name Shaylei is a relatively modern invention, with no clear roots in a specific language or culture. It appears to be a creative combination of two more common names - Shay and Leigh.
Shay is a unisex name with origins in multiple cultures. It can be derived from the Irish Gaelic name Séaghdha, meaning "admirable" or "hawk-like". Alternatively, it may come from the Hebrew name Shay, meaning "gift" or the Persian name Shayah, meaning "worthy of praise". Leigh is an English name derived from a surname referring to someone from a meadow or clearing.
There are no recorded instances of the name Shaylei appearing in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records prior to the 20th century. The earliest known examples are from birth records in the United States and Canada from the late 1900s.
While no famous historical figures bore the exact name Shaylei, there are a few notable individuals with similar names. Shay Mitchell (born 1987) is a Canadian actress and model. Shay Given (born 1976) is an Irish former professional soccer player. Leigh Hunt (1784-1859) was an English poet, critic, and essayist. Leigh Brackett (1915-1978) was an American writer, particularly known for her contributions to the sci-fi genre.
Other individuals with variations of the name include Shaylee Chrisholm (born 1999), a Canadian singer-songwriter, and Shaylee Dugan (born 1992), an American professional wrestler. While the name Shaylei itself is relatively new, it draws inspiration from more established names with rich histories and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shaylei over time
The chart below shows babies named Shaylei registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shaylei, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2012, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shaylei by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shaylei was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5876 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #5556 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Shaylei
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Shaylei: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shaylei in the UK right now?
In 2012, Shaylei was ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shaylei most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 3 babies registered as Shaylei in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shaylei?
A feminine name of uncertain origin, potentially a variant of Shelly.
How many people are called Shaylei in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Shaylei across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.