Shamus is an Irish given name, derived from the Irish language word 'seamsa', which means "gentle" or "tender". It is traditionally a male name, often used in Ireland and among Irish communities elsewhere in the world. The name Shamus gained popularity outside of Ireland following its use by American writer William Faulkner in his novel "The Sound and the Fury", where it is the given name of one of the main characters.
The name Shamus experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years, with its highest point being in 2005 and 2006 when there were 70 and 72 births respectively. However, from 2014 onwards, the number of annual births has consistently been below 30, reaching a recent low of 9 in both 2018 and 2023.