Shelvia: 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	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	179	18	–	#874
1940s	145	15	-19%	#1,309
1950s	36	4	-75%	#3,959
1960s	29	3	-19%	#5,618
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	11	1	–	#10,173
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

179

–

#874

1940s

145

-19%

#1,309

1950s

-75%

#3,959

1960s

-19%

#5,618

1970s

–

1980s

–

#10,173

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Shelvia

Shelvia 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 1936, 400 American babies have been named Shelvia. Its peak came in 1937, when 63 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 Shelvia stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shelvia?

The median living Shelvia is about 83 years old; half are between 74 and 87. An estimated 200 people named Shelvia 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.

Shelvia 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	#10,173
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	7	#5,618
1955	–	–
1950	6	#5,214
1945	–	–
1940	33	#1,309
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Shelvia?

The median living Shelvia is about 83 years old. Half of all living Shelvias are between 74 and 87 years old.

How many people named Shelvia are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Shelvia are alive in the United States, based on 400 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Shelvia in 2025?

Shelvia 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 Shelvia?

400 babies have been named Shelvia in the United States since 1936, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shelvia most popular?

Shelvia peaked in 1937, when 63 newborns received the name.

Is Shelvia a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Shelvia rising or falling?

Shelvia has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Shelvia

Shelvia popularity over time

The story of Shelvia

How old are people named Shelvia?

Shelvia year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Shelvia