Shaya

שַׁיָה

• Gender: Unisex
• Origin: Modern Hebrew
• Meaning: gift

• Shaya means "gift" in Hebrew, and it shares that grateful, celebratory spirit with names across many traditions that honor a child as something precious and given. Its vowel-rich sound gives it an open, airy quality that feels instantly inviting. Shaya has been climbing in popularity in both Israeli and American Jewish communities, riding the wave of short, melodic names that cross gender lines with ease.

  There's a gentle, sun-warmed quality to this name that feels impossible not to love. It works equally well for boys and girls, which gives it real staying power as naming conventions continue to evolve. Two syllables, a meaning that every parent feels in their bones, and a sound that lands softly no matter how many times you say it — Shaya just works.

• Alternate Spellings: Shayah
• Potential Sibling Name:
  Einav
  ,
  Metuka
  ,
  Hod
  ,
  Moti
• Theme: blessing