Sé
Say it: SHAY
BoyIrish2 letters1 syllable
#317
in Ireland (2025)
#307 with spellings combined
13
babies in 2025
#251
best rank (2024)
160
babies since 2007
Up 198
10-year rank change
Sé through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | #307 |
| 2024 | 17 | #251 |
| 2023 | 6 | #497 |
| 2022 | 15 | #285 |
| 2021 | 10 | #353 |
| 2020 | 12 | #332 |
| 2019 | 12 | #324 |
| 2018 | 12 | #324 |
| 2017 | 9 | #394 |
| 2016 | 6 | #491 |
| 2015 | 6 | #505 |
| 2013 | 4 | #606 |
| 2012 | 4 | #616 |
| 2011 | 10 | #387 |
| 2010 | 3 | #720 |
| 2009 | 7 | #429 |
| 2008 | 8 | #412 |
| 2007 | 6 | #435 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Sé mean?
Uncertain
Irish; the origin is not well documented.
Say it right
SHAY
In Irish, S before e sounds like "sh", and the fada makes the é a long "ay".
Not:SEESAY
The story of Sé
Sé is one of the shortest names on the Irish list, and its origin is not well recorded. It looks like a short form of Irish names that begin with the same sound, but we have not found a reliable source that settles which one. As an ordinary Irish word, sé means “he” and also “six”, though there is no sign that parents chose the name for either meaning. Shay and Shea sound the same and are counted as separate names.
It first reached the CSO list in 2007. Its best year so far was 2024, with 17 babies and a rank of number 251 in 2024. The CSO did not record fadas before 2018, so older counts include babies registered as Se. In 2025 all 13 boys on the list had the fada.
It is used on both sides of the border. In Northern Ireland its best rank was number 187 in 2024.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Sé | 13 | 97 |
| Se | under 3 | 63 |
In Northern Ireland
#253 in 2025 with 7 babies. Best rank #187 (2024); 125 babies since 1998.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.