Shelia: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among girls

Babies in 2025

named Shelia

How common

–

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1959

2,293 babies

All-time total

47,891

#608 all-time among girls

First recorded

1915

in Social Security records

Shelia popularity over time

47,891 babies have been named Shelia since 1915, 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

GirlsBoys

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	24	–	24	2	–	#4,198
1920s	147	–	147	15	+513%	#1,824
1930s	384	–	384	38	+161%	#817
1940s	4,013	–	4,013	401	+945%	#269
1950s	16,752	39	16,791	1,679	+318%	#170
1960s	18,444	60	18,504	1,850	+10%	#173
1970s	5,842	12	5,854	585	-68%	#258
1980s	1,353	–	1,353	135	-77%	#762
1990s	504	–	504	50	-63%	#1,739
2000s	190	–	190	19	-62%	#4,430
2010s	93	–	93	9	-51%	#7,390
2020s (to 2025)	34	–	34	6	-39%	#9,453

The story of Shelia

Shelia 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 1915, 47,891 American babies have been named Shelia. Its peak came in 1959, when 2,293 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

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

How old are people named Shelia?

The median living Shelia is about 63 years old; half are between 58 and 69. An estimated 41 thousand people named Shelia 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.

Shelia 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	7	#13,266	–	–
2022	7	#13,380	–	–
2021	9	#11,035	–	–
2020	11	#9,453	–	–
2019	7	#13,604	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	16	#7,390	–	–
2016	12	#9,349	–	–
2015	11	#10,057	–	–
2014	10	#10,833	–	–
2013	8	#12,987	–	–
2012	8	#13,292	–	–
2011	8	#13,182	–	–
2010	13	#9,153	–	–
2009	19	#7,028	–	–
2008	12	#9,988	–	–
2007	12	#10,051	–	–
2006	16	#7,806	–	–
2005	13	#8,797	–	–
2004	28	#4,800	–	–
2003	14	#7,933	–	–
2002	22	#5,419	–	–
2001	28	#4,430	–	–
2000	26	#4,636	–	–
1995	40	#2,969	–	–
1990	82	#1,778	–	–
1985	124	#1,156	–	–
1980	218	#762	–	–
1975	450	#441	–	–
1970	1,192	#258	5	#5,336
1965	1,892	#182	11	#2,598
1960	2,256	#177	8	#3,299
1955	1,837	#181	6	#3,829
1950	957	#242	–	–
1945	305	#407	–	–
1940	82	#785	–	–
1935	43	#1,069	–	–
1930	10	#3,025	–	–
1925	22	#1,884	–	–
1920	7	#4,335	–	–
1915	5	#4,860	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Shelia?

The median living Shelia is about 63 years old. Half of all living Shelias are between 58 and 69 years old.

How many people named Shelia are alive today?

An estimated 41 thousand people named Shelia are alive in the United States, based on 47,891 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Shelia mean?

A female given name, variant of Sheila.

How popular is the name Shelia in 2025?

Shelia 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 Shelia?

47,891 babies have been named Shelia in the United States since 1915, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shelia most popular?

Shelia peaked in 1959, when 2,293 newborns received the name.

Is Shelia a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Shelia rising or falling?

Shelia is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Shelia

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

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