Boy name · English
Shaw
“small wood, thicket”
Vibes
Explore Shaw further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Shaw — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Shaw is Old English sceaga, a small wood or the strip of trees at the edge of a field — the same word that survives in the Sussex and Kentish shaws, hedgerow woodland deliberately kept for timber and shelter.
It is a surname first, and joins the short single-syllable set — Reed, Quinn, Sage, Wren — that English naming has been reaching for since the 1990s.
One syllable, said SHAW. Wants length after it (Shaw Alexander). On our vibe map it is Modern Minimalist with Nature-Inspired colour.
More English names
Shaw sits in our English set — these share its roots.
All English names →Shaw — common questions
Is Shaw a boy or girl name?
Shaw is traditionally a boy name of English origin.
What does the name Shaw mean?
Shaw means “small wood, thicket” of English origin. Shaw is Old English sceaga, a small wood or the strip of trees at the edge of a field — the same word that survives in the Sussex and Kentish shaws, hedgerow woodland deliberately kept for timber and shelter.
Where does the name Shaw come from?
Shaw is English in origin. It is a surname first, and joins the short single-syllable set — Reed, Quinn, Sage, Wren — that English naming has been reaching for since the 1990s.
How popular is Shaw?
Shaw did not make the top 1,000 boys' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Shaw you might want for the nursery.