Shelby

#649 for girls in 2025, 444 births · #2,991 for boys in 2025, 41 births
Given to girls 90.0% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1991 · 10,220 births
Debut · girls
5 births
In top 100 · girls
14 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
148,830
since 1913

Shelby over time

girlsboys

Rank within each sex, plotted together. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201952peak #33, 1991peak #385, 1938girlsboys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#649444#2,99141
2024#657446#2,59551
2023#656448#2,66049
2022#595503#3,00341
2021#549556#3,29735
2020#501606#2,58649
2019#495634#3,71629
2018#424738#3,70829
2017#373836#3,31234
2016#337986#2,99339
2015#2991,080#3,43132
2014#2941,114#3,15435
2013#2591,239#2,56247
2012#2201,447#2,63246
2011#2171,462#2,69944
2010#1841,680#2,63246
2009#1671,935#2,70245
2008#1582,148#1,89976
2007#1492,351#1,92873
2006#1332,620#1,89371
2005#1172,839#1,86968
2004#1122,988#1,53087
2003#943,537#1,63077
2002#753,961#1,258108
2001#684,370#1,298101
2000#704,561#1,087129
1999#625,018#884171
1998#495,893#878165
1997#436,701#751199
1996#357,950#589305
1995#387,632#555335
1994#407,546#536362
1993#378,122#512403
1992#349,396#473453
1991#3310,220#427524
1990#1003,517#525354
1989#2291,203#692205
1988#284881#691184
1987#273899#685176
1986#276900#691172
1985#281885#661177
1984#2421,042#715148
1983#351642#682157
1982#479435#788125
1981#424512#750135
1980#443482#758134
1979#469428#722144
1978#418483#647168
1977#382553#614187
1976#365575#617176
1975#308746#576195
1974#300798#587184
1973#328678#605171
1972#318754#605173
1971#393555#607188
1970#499400#647159
1969#547326#592173
1968#537319#634143
1967#549293#655129
1966#540304#599156
1965#576274#696114
1964#556317#713117
1963#505371#671136
1962#502370#709117
1961#494386#676131
1960#559307#619159
1959#516357#667131
1958#489382#670128
1957#493367#675128
1956#506345#659132
1955#490344#599151
1954#504310#599153
1953#531262#644122
1952#574228#617132
1951#557232#532162
1950#517248#565143
1949#532241#553147
1948#500266#523160
1947#425369#558146
1946#383397#492171
1945#387333#488153
1944#364367#476161
1943#314491#448200
1942#279599#484160
1941#213826#455168
1940#1871,006#436176
1939#1701,164#393207
1938#1421,714#385214
1937#1191,997#385203
1936#1781,071#458151
1935#84067#525121
1934#1,91317#496133
1933#1,83518#530115
1932#1,87718#576106
1931#2,58111#562109
1930—#569111
1929#2,92110#564110
1928#1,96119#62197
1927#2,85911#553124
1926—#562120
1925#3,3629#543128
1924#4,0027#608110
1923#3,9717#550126
1922#3,15210#559128
1921#2,76212#534136
1920#3,09710#499146
1919#3,8177#501141
1918#4,8095#572113
1917#3,0929#532119
1916#2,83310#574100
1915#4,2745#60590
1914#3,6185#53684
1913#3,1875#75938
1912—#58448
1911—#54830
1910—#52429
1909—#50526
1908—#42931
1907—#69914
1906—#40029
1905—#54918
1904—#68612
1903—#50518
1902—#68711
1901—#53614
1900—#53420
1899—#45717
1898—#41822
1897—#55614
1896—#55114
1895—#50116
1894—#54314
1893—#61511
1892—#44519
1891—#8416
1890—#60311
1889—#58111
1888—#50515
1887—#46114
1886—#6479
1885—#60410
1884—#46816
1883—#6778
1882—#51413
1881—#53311
1880—#6828
First appearance
1913

The first year at least five girls were named Shelby! It came in at #3,187, and was given to 5 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1926, when fewer than 5 girls a year got the name.

Where Shelby is popular in 1952

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedMNIllinois: #596 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 10,445 girlsILWisconsin: #303 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 3,643 girlsWIMichigan: #539 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 8,978 girlsMINew York: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedIAIndiana: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedINOhio: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedOHPennsylvania: #500 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 8,544 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #1,183 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 26,270 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedNEMissouri: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedMOKentucky: #410 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 4,812 girlsKYWest Virginia: #197 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,306 girlsWVVirginia: #258 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,933 girlsVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedKSArkansas: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedARTennessee: #298 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 2,645 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #217 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 1,380 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #282 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,830 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedDCOklahoma: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedOKLouisiana: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedLAMississippi: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedMSAlabama: #400 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 4,092 girlsALGeorgia: #318 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 2,591 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedHITexas: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedTXFlorida: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. West Virginia#197 · 1 in 1,306
  2. North Carolina#217 · 1 in 1,380
  3. Virginia#258 · 1 in 1,933
  4. South Carolina#282 · 1 in 1,830
  5. Tennessee#298 · 1 in 2,645

Best ever in a state: #5 in Montana, 1991.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
West Virginia#197171 in 1,306
North Carolina#217371 in 1,380
Virginia#258201 in 1,933
South Carolina#282161 in 1,830
Tennessee#298141 in 2,645
Wisconsin#303111 in 3,643
Georgia#318171 in 2,591
Alabama#40091 in 4,092
Kentucky#41071 in 4,812
Pennsylvania#500131 in 8,544
Michigan#53991 in 8,978
Illinois#59691 in 10,445
California#1,18351 in 26,270
Alaska———
Arizona———
Arkansas———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Indiana———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Louisiana———
Maine———
Maryland———
Massachusetts———
Minnesota———
Mississippi———
Missouri———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New Mexico———
New York———
North Dakota———
Ohio———
Oklahoma———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Texas———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Shelby
Momentum · girls
Falling
  • 8 spots since 2024 (#657 → #649)
  • 148 spots since 2020 (#501 → #649)
  • 350 spots since 2015 (#299 → #649)
  • Biggest jump: 1,073 spots in 1935 (#1,913 → #840)
  • Biggest drop: 75 spots in 1948 (#425 → #500)
Rise & fade · girls
78 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1913
  • Peaked 1991 at #33 (10,220 births)
  • Births halved by 1999, 8 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 14 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 14 yrs · run 1990–2003
  • Top 1,000: 91 yrs · run 1935–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 183
  • Highest: 1 in 183 girls born in 1991 were named Shelby (0.55%)
  • Latest: 1 in 3,620 girls born in 2025 (0.03%)
Era · girls
The 1990s
  • 48.4% of all girls named Shelby (71,995) were born in this decade
Girls or boys?
Flipped in 1936
  • Mostly boys until 1935, mostly girls since
all girlsall boys
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1910s46#2,833 (1916)#3,661
1920s95#1,961 (1928)#3,121
1930s6,077#119 (1937)#1,073
1940s4,895#187 (1940)#358
1950s3,075#489 (1958)#518
1960s3,267#494 (1961)#537
1970s5,970#300 (1974)#378
1980s7,881#229 (1989)#328
1990s71,995#33 (1991)#47
2000s31,310#68 (2001)#114
2010s11,216#184 (2010)#310
2020s3,003#501 (2020)#601

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Shelby in 1952

girls
#574
228 births · 1 in 8,133 girls
boys
#617
132 births · 1 in 14,724 boys

Top girls' names in 1952

  1. #1Linda67,082
  2. #2Mary65,629
  3. #3Patricia53,101
  4. #4Deborah49,811
  5. #5Susan41,348
  6. #6Barbara39,864
  7. #7Nancy31,739
  8. #8Karen28,956
  9. #9Debra26,832
  10. #10Sandra26,097
  11. #574Shelby228

Top boys' names in 1952

  1. #1James87,065
  2. #2Robert86,588
  3. #3John83,140
  4. #4Michael79,037
  5. #5David71,752
  6. #6William63,039
  7. #7Richard58,350
  8. #8Thomas48,647
  9. #9Charles38,866
  10. #10Gary38,754
  11. #617Shelby132
More about 1952

girls

1,854,335 girls got a published name in 1952; 1 in 8,133 of them was named Shelby, which outranked 91.0% of the 6,389 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shelby
  1. #570Edwina229
  2. #570Jannie229
  3. #570Leanne229
  4. #574Shelby228
  5. #574Delilah228
  6. #574Nan228
  7. #577Fern226
  8. #578Melva224
  9. #579Corrine223

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1951
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,501Pandora#3,284 → #783
  2. ↑ 368Lise#1,314 → #946
  3. ↑ 353Vanessa#656 → #303
  4. ↑ 334Dorinda#1,170 → #836
  5. ↑ 332Mitzi#928 → #596
Fallers
  1. ↓ 380Rhona#988 → #1,368
  2. ↓ 342Sharleen#765 → #1,107
  3. ↓ 270Enid#908 → #1,178
  4. ↓ 237Allyn#988 → #1,225
  5. ↓ 230Sheron#908 → #1,138

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,943,633 boys got a published name in 1952; 1 in 14,724 of them was named Shelby, which outranked 85.5% of the 4,257 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.7% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shelby
  1. #608Santiago134
  2. #615Damon133
  3. #615Lindsey133
  4. #617Shelby132
  5. #618Clair131
  6. #619Quentin130
  7. #620Coy129
Biggest movers since 1951
Risers
  1. ↑ 753Darren#1,598 → #845
  2. ↑ 372Robby#1,242 → #870
  3. ↑ 355Cris#1,218 → #863
  4. ↑ 301Ethan#1,295 → #994
  5. ↑ 280Adan#1,150 → #870
Fallers
  1. ↓ 477Ottis#984 → #1,461
  2. ↓ 408Wayland#915 → #1,323
  3. ↓ 330Mcarthur#806 → #1,136
  4. ↓ 305Arvin#963 → #1,268
  5. ↓ 285Levon#881 → #1,166

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1952 →