Seamus
How to say it: SHAY-mus · /ˈʃeɪməs/
Irish form of James, from Late Latin Jacomus, derived from Hebrew Ya'akov meaning 'supplanter'.
Seamus was the 1,121st most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 154 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2000s, its births are down about 30% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,250 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #1,121 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 154 |
| Share of births | 1 in 21,528 |
| Peak decade | 2000s |
| Change over 10 years | −30% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,250 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
After reaching its height in the 2000s, Seamus remains close to that level in active use. A slight dip looks likely in coming years.
What goes with it
Pronounced SHAY mus, it carries a breathy lilt with literary and saintly depth. Declan shares its Irish cadence.
Nicknames
- Shay
- Sea
Honouring a Seamus in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Seamus is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, Hebrew, Irish.
Ireland: #148.
Famous people named Seamus
- Seamus Heaney (1939–2013)Irish poet, playwright, translator, lecturer
- Seamus Dever (born 1976)American actor
- Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick (born 1998)American actor
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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