Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1941

Shelda

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Shelda
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1941
27 babies
All-time total
569
#10,915 all-time among girls
First recorded
1935
in Social Security records

Shelda popularity over time

569 babies have been named Shelda since 1935, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.010.020.0318801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1941Girls

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 Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s 69 7 – #1,935
1940s 127 13 +84% #1,534
1950s 135 14 +6% #2,463
1960s 147 15 +9% #2,736
1970s 73 7 -50% #4,764
1980s 18 2 -75% #8,842
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Shelda

Shelda 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, 569 American babies have been named Shelda. Its peak came in 1941, when 27 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1940s.

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 Shelda stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shelda?

The median living Shelda is about 65 years old; half are between 58 and 75. An estimated 400 people named Shelda are alive in the United States today.

median 65 020406080100

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

Shelda year by year

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

Year Girls Girls 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 6 #10,167
1975 6 #8,857
1970 11 #5,011
1965 20 #2,813
1960 20 #2,807
1955 13 #3,355
1950 10 #3,636
1945 11 #2,893
1940 13 #2,396
1935 11 #2,708
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Shelda?

The median living Shelda is about 65 years old. Half of all living Sheldas are between 58 and 75 years old.

How many people named Shelda are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Shelda are alive in the United States, based on 569 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Shelda in 2025?

Shelda 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 Shelda?

569 babies have been named Shelda in the United States since 1935, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shelda most popular?

Shelda peaked in 1941, when 27 newborns received the name.

Is Shelda a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Shelda rising or falling?

Shelda has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Shelda

Names that sound and feel close to Shelda: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Shelda with similar names → More names starting with S →