Sé is a modern Irish given name, derived as a short form of Séaghdha. Séaghdha itself comes from the Old Irish name Ségdae, which is thought to originate from the word ségda, meaning "fine", "good", "favourable", or "learned". The name thus carries connotations of excellence and wisdom.
In Irish legend, Séaghdha is the name of a boy who was destined for sacrifice but was rescued by his mother. This story, though not widely detailed in surviving texts, adds a layer of dramatic folklore to the name’s heritage. Over time, the name evolved into the anglicized forms Shay and Shea, which have become common surnames and given names in the English-speaking world.
Beyond its Irish roots, the name Sé has unrelated homographs in other languages. In Portuguese, Sé (with a different pronunciation) refers to a toponym indicating the presence of a see (cathedral), used for several civil parishes in places such as Angra do Heroísmo and Funchal. In Hungarian, Sé is a village in Vas County. These are entirely distinct from the Irish personal name in origin and meaning.
As a given name, Sé remains rare outside Ireland, where it is primarily a masculine name. Its related forms, such as the Scottish Gaelic Seaghdh and the English Shae and Shaye, evidence its spread across Gaelic cultures and beyond.
- Meaning: fine, good, learned (via Séaghdha)
- Origin: Modern Irish short form of Séaghdha; Old Irish Ségdae
- Type: Given name (masculine)
- Usage: Irish, with anglicized variants in English and Scottish Gaelic
Sources: Wiktionary — Sé