Meaning: Its source is Shadrach, a Hebrew name meaning "Command of Aku (the Babylonian moon god)."

Popularity: The name Shad ranked 1164th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.

Narrative: Shadrach was a scriptural character who was delivered by God from Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace with his friends Mesach and Abegnego. The derivation from this source is not certain, however; the English surname Shadwell is another possibility.

It is also possible that some boys are named Shad with the popular game fish in mind.