Shelley

#7,885 for girls in 2025, 13 births · Last seen for boys in 2001 at #10,556
Given to girls 97.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1972 · 2,384 births
Debut · girls
6 births
In top 100 · girls
never
of 146 years
Total births · girls
72,586
since 1892

Shelley over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Shelley has never cracked the top 100 here.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201950peak #126, 1972girls
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#7,88513—
2024#8,94611—
2023#10,3129—
2022#12,2437—
2021#8,97811—
2020#7,21215—
2019#8,59712—
2018#8,61712—
2017#8,77612—
2016#6,90117—
2015#8,44713—
2014#5,99321—
2013#7,37216—
2012#7,14417—
2011#5,20726—
2010#4,97428—
2009#4,80530—
2008#4,26836—
2007#4,29935—
2006#3,79540—
2005#3,80938—
2004#3,49042—
2003#3,41242—
2002#3,46139—
2001#2,54060#10,5565
2000#2,25869—
1999#1,85785—
1998#1,69094#5,84010
1997#1,530105—
1996#1,466112—
1995#1,131155#5,50110
1994#1,105162—
1993#870223—
1992#774266—
1991#797257#8,2365
1990#705298#7,1786
1989#577380#6,9416
1988#519426#6,4266
1987#442502#6,9515
1986#400563#4,8538
1985#395569#4,3339
1984#329706#4,9737
1983#300777#5,4846
1982#288848#3,69211
1981#273912#3,85810
1980#2261,131#2,83116
1979#2431,065#2,77716
1978#2381,028#2,47318
1977#2261,104#2,79115
1976#1941,275#2,24520
1975#1701,547#1,94824
1974#1421,997#2,12920
1973#1282,258#1,43535
1972#1262,384#1,53531
1971#1402,274#1,63729
1970#1442,351#1,61528
1969#1352,479#1,49229
1968#1292,483#1,78820
1967#1412,510#1,80919
1966#1402,545#1,54025
1965#1482,528#1,80619
1964#1432,821#1,61524
1963#1482,734#2,04416
1962#1622,476#1,58825
1961#1802,141#1,23341
1960#1822,139#2,12115
1959#1911,848#1,86519
1958#1971,722#1,48328
1957#2001,722#1,51127
1956#1961,681#1,56825
1955#1921,738#1,50326
1954#1612,177#1,40829
1953#1681,937#1,15541
1952#1631,886#1,24535
1951#1661,845#1,05246
1950#1701,670#1,27232
1949#2331,017#1,34829
1948#391413#1,75818
1947#577219#1,33630
1946#570196#1,38226
1945#561171#1,24928
1944#638132#1,37024
1943#734111#1,48622
1942#76298#1,53721
1941#1,00653#1,58819
1940#90663#1,57319
1939#91859#1,87914
1938#1,21936#1,68917
1937#1,03547#1,40323
1936#1,05344#1,41722
1935#1,05543#1,83715
1934#1,23633#1,46122
1933#1,36428#2,21411
1932#1,52025#1,71618
1931#1,25833#2,32811
1930#2,20215#1,69319
1929#2,43713#2,31712
1928#2,38114#1,48025
1927#2,55213#1,56124
1926#3,04610#2,07415
1925#4,4266#2,01216
1924#4,4346#2,04316
1923#3,9717#2,02016
1922#3,6558#1,22235
1921#4,0237#1,64822
1920#2,89911#1,69421
1919—#1,40826
1918#3,5128#1,99816
1917#4,0836#1,98615
1916—#1,59420
1915#3,1348#1,21729
1914#3,6185#2,10110
1913—#1,58012
1912#2,9795#2,0457
1911—#1,1909
1910—#1,04510
1909#2,2085#1,0209
1908—#1,2176
1907—#1,2006
1906—#8529
1905—#1,0916
1904—#8748
1903——
1902——
1901——
1900—#9029
1899—#7149
1898#1,7005#1,1215
1897——
1896—#1,1015
1895—#8727
1894—#1,0745
1893—#7688
1892#1,2786—
1891——
1890——
1889——
1888——
1887——
1886——
1885——
1884——
1883——
1882——
1881——
1880——
First appearance
1892

The first year at least five girls were named Shelley! It came in at #1,278, and was given to 6 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1893–1914, when fewer than 6 girls a year got the name.

Where Shelley is popular in 1950

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedAKMaine: #143 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 743 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #141 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 805 girlsNHWashington: #84 for girls · 70 births · 1 in 353 girlsWAIdaho: #94 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 357 girlsIDMontana: #115 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 455 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #205 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,361 girlsNDMinnesota: #141 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 790 girlsMNIllinois: #161 for girls · 89 births · 1 in 977 girlsILWisconsin: #151 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 1,024 girlsWIMichigan: #136 for girls · 98 births · 1 in 747 girlsMINew York: #120 for girls · 253 births · 1 in 565 girlsNYMassachusetts: #179 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 1,522 girlsMARhode Island: #168 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,216 girlsRIOregon: #96 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 420 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedNVWyoming: #54 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 189 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #216 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,444 girlsSDIowa: #130 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 693 girlsIAIndiana: #157 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 1,047 girlsINOhio: #147 for girls · 96 births · 1 in 887 girlsOHPennsylvania: #175 for girls · 91 births · 1 in 1,124 girlsPANew Jersey: #149 for girls · 50 births · 1 in 860 girlsNJConnecticut: #121 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 623 girlsCTCalifornia: #119 for girls · 216 births · 1 in 526 girlsCAUtah: #98 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 426 girlsUTColorado: #153 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 726 girlsCONebraska: #172 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,104 girlsNEMissouri: #174 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 1,193 girlsMOKentucky: #266 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,237 girlsKYWest Virginia: #232 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,763 girlsWVVirginia: #242 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,748 girlsVAMaryland: #139 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 713 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedDEArizona: #201 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 902 girlsAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedNMKansas: #149 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 854 girlsKSArkansas: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedARTennessee: #348 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 3,336 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #336 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 3,017 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #472 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 5,524 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #147 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 695 girlsDCOklahoma: #327 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,706 girlsOKLouisiana: #275 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,619 girlsLAMississippi: #374 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,149 girlsMSAlabama: #488 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 6,136 girlsALGeorgia: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedGAHawaii: #171 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 666 girlsHITexas: #325 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 2,226 girlsTXFlorida: #222 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,286 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Wyoming#54 · 1 in 189
  2. Washington#84 · 1 in 353
  3. Idaho#94 · 1 in 357
  4. Oregon#96 · 1 in 420
  5. Utah#98 · 1 in 426

Best ever in a state: #40 in Idaho, 1964.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Wyoming#54141 in 189
Washington#84701 in 353
Idaho#94171 in 357
Oregon#96361 in 420
Utah#98201 in 426
Montana#115131 in 455
California#1192161 in 526
New York#1202531 in 565
Connecticut#121281 in 623
Iowa#130401 in 693
Michigan#136981 in 747
Maryland#139321 in 713
Minnesota#141421 in 790
New Hampshire#14161 in 805
Maine#143121 in 743
District of Columbia#147171 in 695
Ohio#147961 in 887
Kansas#149211 in 854
New Jersey#149501 in 860
Wisconsin#151361 in 1,024
Colorado#153201 in 726
Indiana#157401 in 1,047
Illinois#161891 in 977
Rhode Island#16861 in 1,216
Hawaii#17181 in 666
Nebraska#172121 in 1,104
Missouri#174331 in 1,193
Pennsylvania#175911 in 1,124
Massachusetts#179291 in 1,522
Arizona#201101 in 902
North Dakota#20551 in 1,361
South Dakota#21651 in 1,444
Florida#222221 in 1,286
West Virginia#232131 in 1,763
Virginia#242201 in 1,748
Kentucky#266151 in 2,237
Louisiana#275211 in 1,619
Texas#325431 in 2,226
Oklahoma#32781 in 2,706
North Carolina#336161 in 3,017
Tennessee#348111 in 3,336
Mississippi#37491 in 3,149
South Carolina#47251 in 5,524
Alabama#48861 in 6,136
Alaska———
Arkansas———
Delaware———
Georgia———
Nevada———
New Mexico———
Vermont———

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 Shelley
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 1,061 spots since 2024 (#8,946 → #7,885)
  • 673 spots since 2020 (#7,212 → #7,885)
  • 562 spots since 2015 (#8,447 → #7,885)
  • Biggest jump: 301 spots in 1939 (#1,219 → #918)
  • Biggest drop: 235 spots in 1994 (#870 → #1,105)
Rise & fade · girls
80 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1892
  • Peaked 1972 at #126 (2,384 births)
  • Births halved by 1977, 5 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 1,000 for 54 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 54 yrs · run 1942–1993
Share of babies · girls
1 in 638
  • Highest: 1 in 638 girls born in 1972 were named Shelley (0.16%)
  • Latest: 1 in 123,636 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
Era · girls
The 1960s
  • 34.2% of all girls named Shelley (24,856) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1890s11#1,278 (1892)#1,489
1900s5#2,208 (1909)#2,208
1910s32#2,979 (1912)#3,465
1920s95#2,381 (1928)#3,382
1930s363#918 (1939)#1,286
1940s2,473#233 (1949)#638
1950s18,226#161 (1954)#180
1960s24,856#129 (1968)#151
1970s17,283#126 (1972)#175
1980s6,814#226 (1980)#375
1990s1,757#705 (1990)#1,193
2000s431#2,258 (2000)#3,614
2010s174#4,974 (2010)#7,203
2020s66#7,212 (2020)#9,263

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.

Shelley in 1950

girls
#170
1,670 births · 1 in 1,026 girls
boys
#1,272
32 births · 1 in 55,946 boys

Top girls' names in 1950

  1. #1Linda80,433
  2. #2Mary65,481
  3. #3Patricia47,944
  4. #4Barbara41,556
  5. #5Susan38,017
  6. #6Nancy29,617
  7. #7Deborah29,063
  8. #8Sandra28,896
  9. #9Carol26,163
  10. #10Kathleen25,706
  11. #170Shelley1,670

Top boys' names in 1950

  1. #1James86,228
  2. #2Robert83,553
  3. #3John79,412
  4. #4Michael65,136
  5. #5David60,729
  6. #6William60,680
  7. #7Richard51,003
  8. #8Thomas45,596
  9. #9Charles39,095
  10. #10Gary33,737
  11. #1,272Shelley32
More about 1950

girls

1,713,054 girls got a published name in 1950; 1 in 1,026 of them was named Shelley, which outranked 97.2% of the 6,109 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shelley
  1. #167Jacquelyn1,724
  2. #168Renee1,691
  3. #169Priscilla1,672
  4. #170Shelley1,670
  5. #171Wilma1,655
  6. #172Candace1,648
  7. #173Belinda1,634
Biggest movers since 1949
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,242Mindy#2,013 → #771
  2. ↑ 649Geralyn#1,627 → #978
  3. ↑ 636Kyle#1,512 → #876
  4. ↑ 416Debrah#1,109 → #693
  5. ↑ 405Debbra#1,353 → #948
Fallers
  1. ↓ 241Luana#823 → #1,064
  2. ↓ 231Christene#930 → #1,161
  3. ↓ 216Pearline#785 → #1,001
  4. ↓ 210Ingrid#518 → #728
  5. ↓ 201Dayle#982 → #1,183

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

boys

1,790,262 boys got a published name in 1950; 1 in 55,946 of them was named Shelley, which outranked 69.7% of the 4,196 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shelley
  1. #1,256Roel33
  2. #1,256Sharon33
  3. #1,256Vinson33
  4. #1,272Shelley32
  5. #1,272Anselmo32
  6. #1,272Aron32
  7. #1,272Delano32
  8. #1,289Ardell31
  9. #1,289Arvil31
  10. #1,289Augustin31

Tied with 16 names at #1,272; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1949
Risers
  1. ↑ 744Ezzard#1,616 → #872
  2. ↑ 510Kelvin#1,085 → #575
  3. ↑ 447Nancy#1,297 → #850
  4. ↑ 420Samual#1,380 → #960
  5. ↑ 376Shaun#1,275 → #899
Fallers
  1. ↓ 371Sharon#885 → #1,256
  2. ↓ 369Melvyn#770 → #1,139
  3. ↓ 367Les#997 → #1,364
  4. ↓ 351Delmas#905 → #1,256
  5. ↓ 315Denzil#808 → #1,123

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

See the top 100 for 1950 →