Shaleese is an uncommon and intriguing given name, of unknown origin and meaning. It consists of two parts: "Sha" which may be derived from Old German elements like "sc", meaning "shadow"; and "leese", which has no definitive etymology but could potentially be linked to words like "leave", "liss" (meaning "smooth, bald"), or even the Irish surname Ó Laighis. The name Shaleese is not found in any traditional naming systems, making it a unique choice for parents seeking something distinctive for their child. Its pronunciation generally follows the pattern /ʃəˈliːs/ ("shuh-LYESS").
The popularity of the name Shaleese peaked briefly in 1992 with nine births that year before dropping to seven in 1993. In total, sixteen babies were named Shaleese over these two years.