Shelton: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#4,837

among boys · ↑19 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Shelton

How common

1 in 81,337

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1972

185 babies

All-time total

12,145

#1,086 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Shelton popularity over time

12,145 babies have been named Shelton since 1880, 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

BoysGirls

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	–	61	61	6	–	#624
1890s	–	55	55	6	-10%	#773
1900s	–	103	103	10	+87%	#626
1910s	–	478	478	48	+364%	#567
1920s	–	777	777	78	+63%	#652
1930s	–	834	834	83	+7%	#544
1940s	10	1,107	1,117	112	+34%	#549
1950s	–	1,361	1,361	136	+22%	#607
1960s	27	1,483	1,510	151	+11%	#608
1970s	23	1,511	1,534	153	+2%	#598
1980s	25	1,246	1,271	127	-17%	#771
1990s	50	1,358	1,408	141	+11%	#818
2000s	32	934	966	97	-31%	#1,251
2010s	5	513	518	52	-46%	#1,920
2020s (to 2025)	–	152	152	25	-51%	#3,479

Where Shelton is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 boys	Implied rank
2026	20	0.01	outside top 500
2027	20	0.01	outside top 500
2028	19	0.01	outside top 500
2029	19	0.01	outside top 500
2030	18	0.01	outside top 500

The story of Shelton

Shelton is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,837 in 2025 with 21 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 12,145 American babies have been named Shelton. Its peak came in 1972, when 185 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

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

How old are people named Shelton?

The median living Shelton is about 46 years old; half are between 30 and 62. An estimated 8,600 people named Shelton 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.

Shelton 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	–	–	21	#4,837
2024	–	–	21	#4,856
2023	–	–	25	#4,321
2022	–	–	24	#4,417
2021	–	–	29	#3,805
2020	–	–	32	#3,479
2019	–	–	31	#3,624
2018	–	–	25	#4,200
2017	–	–	47	#2,666
2016	–	–	40	#2,981
2015	–	–	62	#2,206
2014	–	–	55	#2,367
2013	5	#18,877	58	#2,247
2012	–	–	62	#2,169
2011	–	–	73	#1,920
2010	–	–	60	#2,207
2009	–	–	66	#2,095
2008	5	#20,032	73	#1,964
2007	6	#17,298	83	#1,779
2006	–	–	98	#1,533
2005	–	–	95	#1,512
2004	–	–	103	#1,392
2003	–	–	108	#1,303
2002	6	#15,117	109	#1,253
2001	7	#13,267	93	#1,377
2000	8	#11,632	106	#1,251
1995	6	#13,144	123	#1,004
1990	–	–	155	#821
1985	–	–	117	#830
1980	7	#8,928	121	#798
1975	6	#8,860	168	#624
1970	–	–	142	#699
1965	–	–	156	#615
1960	–	–	147	#645
1955	–	–	146	#615
1950	–	–	124	#620
1945	–	–	106	#591
1940	–	–	100	#596
1935	–	–	97	#587
1930	–	–	67	#793
1925	–	–	81	#722
1920	–	–	79	#737
1915	–	–	58	#802
1910	–	–	26	#567
1905	–	–	14	#660
1900	–	–	7	#1,149
1895	–	–	6	#1,067
1890	–	–	5	#1,142
1885	–	–	8	#756
1880	–	–	7	#797

Famous people named Shelton

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Shelton Benjamin American professional wrestler (born 1975) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Shelton?

The median living Shelton is about 46 years old. Half of all living Sheltons are between 30 and 62 years old.

How many people named Shelton are alive today?

An estimated 8,600 people named Shelton are alive in the United States, based on 12,145 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Shelton in 2025?

Shelton ranked #4,837 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 21 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Shelton?

12,145 babies have been named Shelton in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shelton most popular?

Shelton peaked in 1972, when 185 newborns received the name.

Is Shelton a boy or girl name?

Shelton is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name Shelton rising or falling?

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

Will Shelton become more popular?

Shelton is trending downward. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 18 boys named Shelton in 2030, which would rank outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Who are famous people named Shelton?

Well-known people named Shelton include Shelton Benjamin (wrestler).

Names like Shelton

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

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