A name I had for being shy (5)
I believe the answer is:
timid
'being shy' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'a name i had' is the wordplay.
'a name' becomes 'tim' (short for Timothy).
'i had' becomes 'i'd' (I'd).
'tim'+'id'='TIMID'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for timid that I've seen before include "doormat" , "Diffident, faint-hearted" , "Easily scared" , "Lacking in courage" , "Easily frightened" .)