UK boy's name
Shaymus
A masculine given name of Gaelic origin meaning "supplanter" or "to replace".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shaymus is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Shaymus popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4647, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2011 to 2011. 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.
Shaymus is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Shaymus. 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 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shaymus ranked #4647 for boys in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 3 boys were registered as Shaymus.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shaymus as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4647
2011
Births in 2011
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Shaymus mean?
The name Shaymus is an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Séamus, which is derived from the Latin name Jacobus, meaning "supplanter" or "follower". The name Jacobus is the Latin form of the Hebrew name Ya'aqov, which is better known as Jacob in English.
The name Shaymus first gained popularity in Ireland during the Middle Ages, particularly among Irish Catholics who adopted it as a form of the biblical name Jacob. The earliest recorded use of the name Shaymus dates back to the 12th century, though it was less common than the more traditional Gaelic spelling of Séamus.
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Shaymus was Shaymus O'Bolger, an Irish chieftain who lived in the 14th century. O'Bolger was a prominent leader in County Laois and played a significant role in resisting the English conquest of Ireland during the Norman invasion.
In the 16th century, Shaymus Butler, an Irish soldier and landowner, gained recognition for his military service in the Nine Years' War against the English. Butler was a staunch supporter of the Catholic cause and fought alongside Hugh O'Neill, the Earl of Tyrone, in the latter stages of the conflict.
During the 17th century, Shaymus MacDonnell, a Scottish-Irish landowner and politician, served as a member of the Irish Parliament and was a prominent figure in the Plantation of Ulster. MacDonnell played a key role in the settlement of Scottish and English Protestants in the northern regions of Ireland.
Another notable figure named Shaymus was Shaymus MacCurtin, an Irish poet and scholar who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. MacCurtin was a prolific writer and is considered one of the last great poets of the Classical Irish tradition. His works provide valuable insights into the language, culture, and history of Ireland during this period.
In more recent times, Shaymus Culhane, an Irish-American actor and vaudeville performer, gained fame in the early 20th century for his comedic roles on stage and in silent films. Culhane was born in 1876 and was known for his portrayal of Irish stereotypes, which were popular at the time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Shaymus by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shaymus 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 | #4647 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Shaymus
- Samuel 108,505
- Sebastian 33,008
- Sam 20,889
- Stanley 16,354
- Sonny 15,028
- Sean 15,006
- Scott 12,587
- Seth 9,841
- Syed 9,050
- Stephen 8,884
- Spencer 8,333
- Steven 6,970
FAQ
Shaymus: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shaymus in the UK right now?
In 2011, Shaymus was ranked #4647 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shaymus most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 3 babies registered as Shaymus in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shaymus?
A masculine given name of Gaelic origin meaning "supplanter" or "to replace".
How many people are called Shaymus in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Shaymus across the 1 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.