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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201960peak #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 1960

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedAKMaine: #134 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 585 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #157 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 783 girlsNHWashington: #90 for girls · 79 births · 1 in 358 girlsWAIdaho: #63 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 238 girlsIDMontana: #108 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 393 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #90 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 348 girlsNDMinnesota: #111 for girls · 81 births · 1 in 478 girlsMNIllinois: #213 for girls · 85 births · 1 in 1,266 girlsILWisconsin: #158 for girls · 54 births · 1 in 832 girlsWIMichigan: #127 for girls · 151 births · 1 in 585 girlsMINew York: #251 for girls · 108 births · 1 in 1,553 girlsNYMassachusetts: #167 for girls · 50 births · 1 in 1,054 girlsMARhode Island: #176 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,021 girlsRIOregon: #89 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 344 girlsORNevada: #134 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 465 girlsNVWyoming: #75 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 242 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #119 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 472 girlsSDIowa: #119 for girls · 57 births · 1 in 494 girlsIAIndiana: #167 for girls · 63 births · 1 in 800 girlsINOhio: #158 for girls · 140 births · 1 in 751 girlsOHPennsylvania: #202 for girls · 91 births · 1 in 1,227 girlsPANew Jersey: #265 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 1,993 girlsNJConnecticut: #172 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 985 girlsCTCalifornia: #137 for girls · 306 births · 1 in 564 girlsCAUtah: #76 for girls · 37 births · 1 in 288 girlsUTColorado: #127 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 488 girlsCONebraska: #111 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 438 girlsNEMissouri: #165 for girls · 57 births · 1 in 785 girlsMOKentucky: #296 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,134 girlsKYWest Virginia: #209 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,243 girlsWVVirginia: #226 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 1,373 girlsVAMaryland: #197 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 1,160 girlsMDDelaware: #134 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 506 girlsDEArizona: #145 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 522 girlsAZNew Mexico: #203 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 824 girlsNMKansas: #117 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 478 girlsKSArkansas: #326 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,224 girlsARTennessee: #366 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 3,310 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #497 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 5,396 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #395 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 3,259 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #200 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,015 girlsDCOklahoma: #99 for girls · 49 births · 1 in 428 girlsOKLouisiana: #275 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 1,553 girlsLAMississippi: #345 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,304 girlsMSAlabama: #400 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 3,155 girlsALGeorgia: #371 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,969 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedHITexas: #233 for girls · 99 births · 1 in 1,145 girlsTXFlorida: #289 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 1,733 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Idaho#63 · 1 in 238
  2. Wyoming#75 · 1 in 242
  3. Utah#76 · 1 in 288
  4. Oregon#89 · 1 in 344
  5. North Dakota#90 · 1 in 348

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Idaho#63271 in 238
Wyoming#75121 in 242
Utah#76371 in 288
Oregon#89471 in 344
North Dakota#90191 in 348
Washington#90791 in 358
Oklahoma#99491 in 428
Montana#108171 in 393
Minnesota#111811 in 478
Nebraska#111331 in 438
Kansas#117441 in 478
Iowa#119571 in 494
South Dakota#119151 in 472
Colorado#127401 in 488
Michigan#1271511 in 585
Delaware#13491 in 506
Maine#134171 in 585
Nevada#13451 in 465
California#1373061 in 564
Arizona#145291 in 522
New Hampshire#15771 in 783
Ohio#1581401 in 751
Wisconsin#158541 in 832
Missouri#165571 in 785
Indiana#167631 in 800
Massachusetts#167501 in 1,054
Connecticut#172251 in 985
Rhode Island#17681 in 1,021
Maryland#197261 in 1,160
District of Columbia#200131 in 1,015
Pennsylvania#202911 in 1,227
New Mexico#203151 in 824
West Virginia#209141 in 1,243
Illinois#213851 in 1,266
Virginia#226291 in 1,373
Texas#233991 in 1,145
New York#2511081 in 1,553
New Jersey#265291 in 1,993
Louisiana#275251 in 1,553
Florida#289291 in 1,733
Kentucky#296151 in 2,134
Arkansas#32681 in 2,224
Mississippi#345111 in 2,304
Tennessee#366111 in 3,310
Georgia#371151 in 2,969
South Carolina#39581 in 3,259
Alabama#400111 in 3,155
North Carolina#49791 in 5,396
Alaska———
Hawaii———
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 1960

girls
#182
2,139 births · 1 in 945 girls
boys
#2,121
15 births · 1 in 142,155 boys

Top girls' names in 1960

  1. #1Mary51,472
  2. #2Susan39,208
  3. #3Linda37,316
  4. #4Karen36,378
  5. #5Donna34,138
  6. #6Lisa33,693
  7. #7Patricia32,113
  8. #8Debra26,732
  9. #9Cynthia26,706
  10. #10Deborah25,266
  11. #182Shelley2,139

Top boys' names in 1960

  1. #1David85,929
  2. #2Michael84,153
  3. #3James76,815
  4. #4John76,096
  5. #5Robert72,357
  6. #6Mark58,727
  7. #7William49,361
  8. #8Richard43,553
  9. #9Thomas39,278
  10. #10Steven33,878
  11. #2,121Shelley15
More about 1960

girls

2,021,941 girls got a published name in 1960; 1 in 945 of them was named Shelley, which outranked 97.5% of the 7,332 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shelley
  1. #179Sheri2,210
  2. #180Jamie2,202
  3. #181Rosemary2,192
  4. #182Shelley2,139
  5. #183Lynda2,122
  6. #184Juanita2,095
  7. #185Tammie2,070
Biggest movers since 1959
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,798Lisha#2,395 → #597
  2. ↑ 1,223Elana#2,108 → #885
  3. ↑ 667Leisha#1,537 → #870
  4. ↑ 513Misty#1,214 → #701
  5. ↑ 462Loriann#1,396 → #934
Fallers
  1. ↓ 421Taryn#771 → #1,192
  2. ↓ 335Cheryll#993 → #1,328
  3. ↓ 305Marilynn#724 → #1,029
  4. ↓ 304Drema#997 → #1,301
  5. ↓ 258Merrie#978 → #1,236

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

boys

2,132,320 boys got a published name in 1960; 1 in 142,155 of them was named Shelley, which outranked 53.9% of the 4,598 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 29.1% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shelley
  1. #2,042Yale16
  2. #2,042Yvonne16
  3. #2,042Zev16
  4. #2,121Shelley15
  5. #2,121Andamo15
  6. #2,121Arley15
  7. #2,121Arlis15
  8. #2,210Ambrosio14
  9. #2,210Anna14
  10. #2,210Ashton14

Tied with 88 names at #2,121; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1959
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,061Stephon#3,988 → #927
  2. ↑ 1,039Kennedy#1,759 → #720
  3. ↑ 489Darryle#1,416 → #927
  4. ↑ 379Garret#1,360 → #981
  5. ↑ 373Darryll#1,324 → #951
Fallers
  1. ↓ 333Grayling#987 → #1,320
  2. ↓ 327Lucious#946 → #1,273
  3. ↓ 274Brion#919 → #1,193
  4. ↓ 261Gail#747 → #1,008
  5. ↓ 254Delton#939 → #1,193

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

See the top 100 for 1960 →