Shelba: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	970	5	975	98	–	#341
1940s	679	–	679	68	-30%	#521
1950s	287	–	287	29	-58%	#1,594
1960s	146	–	146	15	-49%	#2,766
1970s	38	–	38	4	-74%	#7,141
1980s	16	–	16	2	-58%	#7,308
1990s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

970

975

–

#341

1940s

679

–

679

-30%

#521

1950s

287

–

287

-58%

#1,594

1960s

146

–

146

-49%

#2,766

1970s

–

-74%

#7,141

1980s

–

-58%

#7,308

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Shelba

Shelba is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1935, 2,141 American babies have been named Shelba. Its peak came in 1937, when 349 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1930s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Shelba stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shelba?

The median living Shelba is about 82 years old; half are between 70 and 86. An estimated 1,200 people named Shelba are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Shelba year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	–	–	–	–
1990	–	–	–	–
1985	–	–	–	–
1980	9	#7,308	–	–
1975	7	#7,821	–	–
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	7	#5,726	–	–
1960	20	#2,806	–	–
1955	42	#1,594	–	–
1950	28	#1,827	–	–
1945	34	#1,397	–	–
1940	174	#521	–	–
1935	6	#4,145	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Shelba, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Shelba?

The median living Shelba is about 82 years old. Half of all living Shelbas are between 70 and 86 years old.

How many people named Shelba are alive today?

An estimated 1,200 people named Shelba are alive in the United States, based on 2,141 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Shelba in 2025?

Shelba did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Shelba?

2,141 babies have been named Shelba in the United States since 1935, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shelba most popular?

Shelba peaked in 1937, when 349 newborns received the name.

Is Shelba a boy or girl name?

Shelba is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Shelba rising or falling?

Shelba has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Shelba

Shelba popularity over time

The story of Shelba

How old are people named Shelba?

Shelba year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Shelba