A shape optimal design of synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis is performed using a three-dimensional finite element method. Geometric parameters are introduced to model the cross-sectional geometry of the intervertebral disc. It is assumed that the total strain energy in the intact intervertebral disc is minimized under the normal load conditions, as often cited in other references. To calculate the stain energy density, both the nonlinear material properties and the large deformations are taken into account. The design variables of the annulus fiber angle and the area ratio of the nucleus pulposus are calculated as 31°and 30%, respectively, which complies well with the intact disc. Thus, the same optimization procedure is applied to the design of the synthetic intervertebral disc prosthesis whose material properties are different from the intact disc. For the given synthetic material properties, the values of 67°and 24% for the fiber angle and the area ratio are obtained.