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
- Peak · girls
- 1972 · 2,384 births
- Debut · girls
- 6 births
- In top 100 · girls
- neverof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 72,586since 1892
Shelley over time
Rank among girls' names. Shelley has never cracked the top 100 here.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #7,885 | 13 | — | |
| 2024 | #8,946 | 11 | — | |
| 2023 | #10,312 | 9 | — | |
| 2022 | #12,243 | 7 | — | |
| 2021 | #8,978 | 11 | — | |
| 2020 | #7,212 | 15 | — | |
| 2019 | #8,597 | 12 | — | |
| 2018 | #8,617 | 12 | — | |
| 2017 | #8,776 | 12 | — | |
| 2016 | #6,901 | 17 | — | |
| 2015 | #8,447 | 13 | — | |
| 2014 | #5,993 | 21 | — | |
| 2013 | #7,372 | 16 | — | |
| 2012 | #7,144 | 17 | — | |
| 2011 | #5,207 | 26 | — | |
| 2010 | #4,974 | 28 | — | |
| 2009 | #4,805 | 30 | — | |
| 2008 | #4,268 | 36 | — | |
| 2007 | #4,299 | 35 | — | |
| 2006 | #3,795 | 40 | — | |
| 2005 | #3,809 | 38 | — | |
| 2004 | #3,490 | 42 | — | |
| 2003 | #3,412 | 42 | — | |
| 2002 | #3,461 | 39 | — | |
| 2001 | #2,540 | 60 | #10,556 | 5 |
| 2000 | #2,258 | 69 | — | |
| 1999 | #1,857 | 85 | — | |
| 1998 | #1,690 | 94 | #5,840 | 10 |
| 1997 | #1,530 | 105 | — | |
| 1996 | #1,466 | 112 | — | |
| 1995 | #1,131 | 155 | #5,501 | 10 |
| 1994 | #1,105 | 162 | — | |
| 1993 | #870 | 223 | — | |
| 1992 | #774 | 266 | — | |
| 1991 | #797 | 257 | #8,236 | 5 |
| 1990 | #705 | 298 | #7,178 | 6 |
| 1989 | #577 | 380 | #6,941 | 6 |
| 1988 | #519 | 426 | #6,426 | 6 |
| 1987 | #442 | 502 | #6,951 | 5 |
| 1986 | #400 | 563 | #4,853 | 8 |
| 1985 | #395 | 569 | #4,333 | 9 |
| 1984 | #329 | 706 | #4,973 | 7 |
| 1983 | #300 | 777 | #5,484 | 6 |
| 1982 | #288 | 848 | #3,692 | 11 |
| 1981 | #273 | 912 | #3,858 | 10 |
| 1980 | #226 | 1,131 | #2,831 | 16 |
| 1979 | #243 | 1,065 | #2,777 | 16 |
| 1978 | #238 | 1,028 | #2,473 | 18 |
| 1977 | #226 | 1,104 | #2,791 | 15 |
| 1976 | #194 | 1,275 | #2,245 | 20 |
| 1975 | #170 | 1,547 | #1,948 | 24 |
| 1974 | #142 | 1,997 | #2,129 | 20 |
| 1973 | #128 | 2,258 | #1,435 | 35 |
| 1972 | #126 | 2,384 | #1,535 | 31 |
| 1971 | #140 | 2,274 | #1,637 | 29 |
| 1970 | #144 | 2,351 | #1,615 | 28 |
| 1969 | #135 | 2,479 | #1,492 | 29 |
| 1968 | #129 | 2,483 | #1,788 | 20 |
| 1967 | #141 | 2,510 | #1,809 | 19 |
| 1966 | #140 | 2,545 | #1,540 | 25 |
| 1965 | #148 | 2,528 | #1,806 | 19 |
| 1964 | #143 | 2,821 | #1,615 | 24 |
| 1963 | #148 | 2,734 | #2,044 | 16 |
| 1962 | #162 | 2,476 | #1,588 | 25 |
| 1961 | #180 | 2,141 | #1,233 | 41 |
| 1960 | #182 | 2,139 | #2,121 | 15 |
| 1959 | #191 | 1,848 | #1,865 | 19 |
| 1958 | #197 | 1,722 | #1,483 | 28 |
| 1957 | #200 | 1,722 | #1,511 | 27 |
| 1956 | #196 | 1,681 | #1,568 | 25 |
| 1955 | #192 | 1,738 | #1,503 | 26 |
| 1954 | #161 | 2,177 | #1,408 | 29 |
| 1953 | #168 | 1,937 | #1,155 | 41 |
| 1952 | #163 | 1,886 | #1,245 | 35 |
| 1951 | #166 | 1,845 | #1,052 | 46 |
| 1950 | #170 | 1,670 | #1,272 | 32 |
| 1949 | #233 | 1,017 | #1,348 | 29 |
| 1948 | #391 | 413 | #1,758 | 18 |
| 1947 | #577 | 219 | #1,336 | 30 |
| 1946 | #570 | 196 | #1,382 | 26 |
| 1945 | #561 | 171 | #1,249 | 28 |
| 1944 | #638 | 132 | #1,370 | 24 |
| 1943 | #734 | 111 | #1,486 | 22 |
| 1942 | #762 | 98 | #1,537 | 21 |
| 1941 | #1,006 | 53 | #1,588 | 19 |
| 1940 | #906 | 63 | #1,573 | 19 |
| 1939 | #918 | 59 | #1,879 | 14 |
| 1938 | #1,219 | 36 | #1,689 | 17 |
| 1937 | #1,035 | 47 | #1,403 | 23 |
| 1936 | #1,053 | 44 | #1,417 | 22 |
| 1935 | #1,055 | 43 | #1,837 | 15 |
| 1934 | #1,236 | 33 | #1,461 | 22 |
| 1933 | #1,364 | 28 | #2,214 | 11 |
| 1932 | #1,520 | 25 | #1,716 | 18 |
| 1931 | #1,258 | 33 | #2,328 | 11 |
| 1930 | #2,202 | 15 | #1,693 | 19 |
| 1929 | #2,437 | 13 | #2,317 | 12 |
| 1928 | #2,381 | 14 | #1,480 | 25 |
| 1927 | #2,552 | 13 | #1,561 | 24 |
| 1926 | #3,046 | 10 | #2,074 | 15 |
| 1925 | #4,426 | 6 | #2,012 | 16 |
| 1924 | #4,434 | 6 | #2,043 | 16 |
| 1923 | #3,971 | 7 | #2,020 | 16 |
| 1922 | #3,655 | 8 | #1,222 | 35 |
| 1921 | #4,023 | 7 | #1,648 | 22 |
| 1920 | #2,899 | 11 | #1,694 | 21 |
| 1919 | — | #1,408 | 26 | |
| 1918 | #3,512 | 8 | #1,998 | 16 |
| 1917 | #4,083 | 6 | #1,986 | 15 |
| 1916 | — | #1,594 | 20 | |
| 1915 | #3,134 | 8 | #1,217 | 29 |
| 1914 | #3,618 | 5 | #2,101 | 10 |
| 1913 | — | #1,580 | 12 | |
| 1912 | #2,979 | 5 | #2,045 | 7 |
| 1911 | — | #1,190 | 9 | |
| 1910 | — | #1,045 | 10 | |
| 1909 | #2,208 | 5 | #1,020 | 9 |
| 1908 | — | #1,217 | 6 | |
| 1907 | — | #1,200 | 6 | |
| 1906 | — | #852 | 9 | |
| 1905 | — | #1,091 | 6 | |
| 1904 | — | #874 | 8 | |
| 1903 | — | — | ||
| 1902 | — | — | ||
| 1901 | — | — | ||
| 1900 | — | #902 | 9 | |
| 1899 | — | #714 | 9 | |
| 1898 | #1,700 | 5 | #1,121 | 5 |
| 1897 | — | — | ||
| 1896 | — | #1,101 | 5 | |
| 1895 | — | #872 | 7 | |
| 1894 | — | #1,074 | 5 | |
| 1893 | — | #768 | 8 | |
| 1892 | #1,278 | 6 | — | |
| 1891 | — | — | ||
| 1890 | — | — | ||
| 1889 | — | — | ||
| 1888 | — | — | ||
| 1887 | — | — | ||
| 1886 | — | — | ||
| 1885 | — | — | ||
| 1884 | — | — | ||
| 1883 | — | — | ||
| 1882 | — | — | ||
| 1881 | — | — | ||
| 1880 | — | — | ||
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 1990
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Georgia#320 · 1 in 2,133
- Louisiana#321 · 1 in 1,813
- Alabama#351 · 1 in 2,248
- North Carolina#354 · 1 in 2,554
- Kentucky#393 · 1 in 3,034
Best ever in a state: #40 in Idaho, 1964.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | #320 | 20 | 1 in 2,133 |
| Louisiana | #321 | 14 | 1 in 1,813 |
| Alabama | #351 | 10 | 1 in 2,248 |
| North Carolina | #354 | 16 | 1 in 2,554 |
| Kentucky | #393 | 7 | 1 in 3,034 |
| South Carolina | #448 | 7 | 1 in 2,862 |
| Tennessee | #450 | 9 | 1 in 3,355 |
| Virginia | #525 | 9 | 1 in 4,198 |
| Maryland | #592 | 6 | 1 in 4,728 |
| Massachusetts | #616 | 7 | 1 in 5,533 |
| Michigan | #644 | 11 | 1 in 5,679 |
| Florida | #663 | 15 | 1 in 5,275 |
| Indiana | #753 | 5 | 1 in 7,035 |
| New Jersey | #767 | 7 | 1 in 6,852 |
| Washington | #773 | 5 | 1 in 6,181 |
| Texas | #784 | 22 | 1 in 6,254 |
| Pennsylvania | #836 | 8 | 1 in 9,075 |
| Ohio | #901 | 7 | 1 in 10,128 |
| New York | #920 | 15 | 1 in 8,137 |
| California | #1,044 | 28 | 1 in 9,373 |
| Illinois | #1,245 | 6 | 1 in 13,085 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Arizona | — | — | — |
| Arkansas | — | — | — |
| Colorado | — | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Idaho | — | — | — |
| Iowa | — | — | — |
| Kansas | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Minnesota | — | — | — |
| Mississippi | — | — | — |
| Missouri | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| North Dakota | — | — | — |
| Oklahoma | — | — | — |
| Oregon | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | — | — |
| Utah | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| West Virginia | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | — | — | — |
| 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 Shelley
- 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)
- Debuted 1892
- Peaked 1972 at #126 (2,384 births)
- Births halved by 1977, 5 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: never
- Top 1,000: 54 yrs · run 1942–1993
- Highest: 1 in 638 girls born in 1972 were named Shelley (0.16%)
- Latest: 1 in 123,636 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
- 34.2% of all girls named Shelley (24,856) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 11 | #1,278 (1892) | #1,489 |
| 1900s | 5 | #2,208 (1909) | #2,208 |
| 1910s | 32 | #2,979 (1912) | #3,465 |
| 1920s | 95 | #2,381 (1928) | #3,382 |
| 1930s | 363 | #918 (1939) | #1,286 |
| 1940s | 2,473 | #233 (1949) | #638 |
| 1950s | 18,226 | #161 (1954) | #180 |
| 1960s | 24,856 | #129 (1968) | #151 |
| 1970s | 17,283 | #126 (1972) | #175 |
| 1980s | 6,814 | #226 (1980) | #375 |
| 1990s | 1,757 | #705 (1990) | #1,193 |
| 2000s | 431 | #2,258 (2000) | #3,614 |
| 2010s | 174 | #4,974 (2010) | #7,203 |
| 2020s | 66 | #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 1990
Top girls' names in 1990
Top boys' names in 1990
More about 1990
girls
1,898,547 girls got a published name in 1990; 1 in 6,371 of them was named Shelley, which outranked 95.4% of the 15,234 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
boys
2,054,038 boys got a published name in 1990; 1 in 342,340 of them was named Shelley, which outranked 24.4% of the 9,493 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 19.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #6,415Zed7
- #6,415Zedrick7
- #6,415Zenas7
- #7,178Shelley6
- #7,178Aalap6
- #7,178Abbott6
- #7,178Abdo6
- #8,117Aamer5
- #8,117Aasin5
- #8,117Abdelrahman5
Tied with 938 names at #7,178; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.