Shelby

#649 for girls in 2025, 444 births · #2,991 for boys in 2025, 41 births
Given to girls 90.0% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1991 · 10,220 births
Debut · girls
5 births
In top 100 · girls
14 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
148,830
since 1913

Shelby over time

girlsboys

Rank within each sex, plotted together. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020202015peak #33, 1991peak #385, 1938girlsboys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#649444#2,99141
2024#657446#2,59551
2023#656448#2,66049
2022#595503#3,00341
2021#549556#3,29735
2020#501606#2,58649
2019#495634#3,71629
2018#424738#3,70829
2017#373836#3,31234
2016#337986#2,99339
2015#2991,080#3,43132
2014#2941,114#3,15435
2013#2591,239#2,56247
2012#2201,447#2,63246
2011#2171,462#2,69944
2010#1841,680#2,63246
2009#1671,935#2,70245
2008#1582,148#1,89976
2007#1492,351#1,92873
2006#1332,620#1,89371
2005#1172,839#1,86968
2004#1122,988#1,53087
2003#943,537#1,63077
2002#753,961#1,258108
2001#684,370#1,298101
2000#704,561#1,087129
1999#625,018#884171
1998#495,893#878165
1997#436,701#751199
1996#357,950#589305
1995#387,632#555335
1994#407,546#536362
1993#378,122#512403
1992#349,396#473453
1991#3310,220#427524
1990#1003,517#525354
1989#2291,203#692205
1988#284881#691184
1987#273899#685176
1986#276900#691172
1985#281885#661177
1984#2421,042#715148
1983#351642#682157
1982#479435#788125
1981#424512#750135
1980#443482#758134
1979#469428#722144
1978#418483#647168
1977#382553#614187
1976#365575#617176
1975#308746#576195
1974#300798#587184
1973#328678#605171
1972#318754#605173
1971#393555#607188
1970#499400#647159
1969#547326#592173
1968#537319#634143
1967#549293#655129
1966#540304#599156
1965#576274#696114
1964#556317#713117
1963#505371#671136
1962#502370#709117
1961#494386#676131
1960#559307#619159
1959#516357#667131
1958#489382#670128
1957#493367#675128
1956#506345#659132
1955#490344#599151
1954#504310#599153
1953#531262#644122
1952#574228#617132
1951#557232#532162
1950#517248#565143
1949#532241#553147
1948#500266#523160
1947#425369#558146
1946#383397#492171
1945#387333#488153
1944#364367#476161
1943#314491#448200
1942#279599#484160
1941#213826#455168
1940#1871,006#436176
1939#1701,164#393207
1938#1421,714#385214
1937#1191,997#385203
1936#1781,071#458151
1935#84067#525121
1934#1,91317#496133
1933#1,83518#530115
1932#1,87718#576106
1931#2,58111#562109
1930#569111
1929#2,92110#564110
1928#1,96119#62197
1927#2,85911#553124
1926#562120
1925#3,3629#543128
1924#4,0027#608110
1923#3,9717#550126
1922#3,15210#559128
1921#2,76212#534136
1920#3,09710#499146
1919#3,8177#501141
1918#4,8095#572113
1917#3,0929#532119
1916#2,83310#574100
1915#4,2745#60590
1914#3,6185#53684
1913#3,1875#75938
1912#58448
1911#54830
1910#52429
1909#50526
1908#42931
1907#69914
1906#40029
1905#54918
1904#68612
1903#50518
1902#68711
1901#53614
1900#53420
1899#45717
1898#41822
1897#55614
1896#55114
1895#50116
1894#54314
1893#61511
1892#44519
1891#8416
1890#60311
1889#58111
1888#50515
1887#46114
1886#6479
1885#60410
1884#46816
1883#6778
1882#51413
1881#53311
1880#6828
First appearance
1913

The first year at least five girls were named Shelby! It came in at #3,187, and was given to 5 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1926, when fewer than 5 girls a year got the name.

Where Shelby is popular in 2015

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #184 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 628 girlsNHWashington: #456 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,090 girlsWAIdaho: #363 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,293 girlsIDMontana: #212 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 598 girlsMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #230 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 941 girlsMNIllinois: #437 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 2,090 girlsILWisconsin: #442 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,940 girlsWIMichigan: #310 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 1,455 girlsMINew York: #736 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 3,970 girlsNYMassachusetts: #669 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,611 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedRIOregon: #277 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,088 girlsORNevada: #401 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,565 girlsNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #221 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 610 girlsSDIowa: #270 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,075 girlsIAIndiana: #337 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,458 girlsINOhio: #309 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 1,389 girlsOHPennsylvania: #437 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 2,112 girlsPANew Jersey: #786 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 4,129 girlsNJConnecticut: #359 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,504 girlsCTCalifornia: #414 for girls · 101 births · 1 in 2,033 girlsCAUtah: #295 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,187 girlsUTColorado: #220 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 900 girlsCONebraska: #258 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 891 girlsNEMissouri: #228 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 971 girlsMOKentucky: #98 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 422 girlsKYWest Virginia: #166 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 634 girlsWVVirginia: #267 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 1,209 girlsVAMaryland: #322 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,339 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedDEArizona: #313 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,405 girlsAZNew Mexico: #136 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 504 girlsNMKansas: #360 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,447 girlsKSArkansas: #202 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 788 girlsARTennessee: #168 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 742 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #232 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 1,009 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #249 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 967 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #419 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,683 girlsOKLouisiana: #281 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 1,120 girlsLAMississippi: #139 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 562 girlsMSAlabama: #210 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 855 girlsALGeorgia: #221 for girls · 49 births · 1 in 994 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Shelby, so not publishedHITexas: #233 for girls · 140 births · 1 in 1,212 girlsTXFlorida: #315 for girls · 57 births · 1 in 1,508 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Kentucky#98 · 1 in 422
  2. New Mexico#136 · 1 in 504
  3. Mississippi#139 · 1 in 562
  4. West Virginia#166 · 1 in 634
  5. Tennessee#168 · 1 in 742

Best ever in a state: #5 in Montana, 1991.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Kentucky#98441 in 422
New Mexico#136131 in 504
Mississippi#139201 in 562
West Virginia#166101 in 634
Tennessee#168421 in 742
New Hampshire#18461 in 628
Arkansas#202151 in 788
Alabama#210231 in 855
Montana#21251 in 598
Colorado#220261 in 900
Georgia#221491 in 994
South Dakota#22151 in 610
Missouri#228281 in 971
Minnesota#230261 in 941
North Carolina#232451 in 1,009
Texas#2331401 in 1,212
South Carolina#249191 in 967
Nebraska#25891 in 891
Virginia#267311 in 1,209
Iowa#270121 in 1,075
Oregon#277141 in 1,088
Louisiana#281191 in 1,120
Utah#295151 in 1,187
Ohio#309381 in 1,389
Michigan#310291 in 1,455
Arizona#313221 in 1,405
Florida#315571 in 1,508
Maryland#322181 in 1,339
Indiana#337211 in 1,458
Connecticut#35981 in 1,504
Kansas#36091 in 1,447
Idaho#36351 in 1,293
Nevada#40171 in 1,565
California#4141011 in 2,033
Oklahoma#419101 in 1,683
Illinois#437281 in 2,090
Pennsylvania#437251 in 2,112
Wisconsin#442121 in 1,940
Washington#456151 in 2,090
Massachusetts#66971 in 3,611
New York#736231 in 3,970
New Jersey#78691 in 4,129
Alaska
Delaware
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Maine
North Dakota
Rhode Island
Vermont
Wyoming

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Shelby
Momentum · girls
Falling
  • 8 spots since 2024 (#657#649)
  • 148 spots since 2020 (#501#649)
  • 350 spots since 2015 (#299#649)
  • Biggest jump: 1,073 spots in 1935 (#1,913#840)
  • Biggest drop: 75 spots in 1948 (#425#500)
Rise & fade · girls
78 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1913
  • Peaked 1991 at #33 (10,220 births)
  • Births halved by 1999, 8 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 14 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 14 yrs · run 1990–2003
  • Top 1,000: 91 yrs · run 1935–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 183
  • Highest: 1 in 183 girls born in 1991 were named Shelby (0.55%)
  • Latest: 1 in 3,620 girls born in 2025 (0.03%)
Era · girls
The 1990s
  • 48.4% of all girls named Shelby (71,995) were born in this decade
Girls or boys?
Flipped in 1936
  • Mostly boys until 1935, mostly girls since
all girlsall boys
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1910s46#2,833 (1916)#3,661
1920s95#1,961 (1928)#3,121
1930s6,077#119 (1937)#1,073
1940s4,895#187 (1940)#358
1950s3,075#489 (1958)#518
1960s3,267#494 (1961)#537
1970s5,970#300 (1974)#378
1980s7,881#229 (1989)#328
1990s71,995#33 (1991)#47
2000s31,310#68 (2001)#114
2010s11,216#184 (2010)#310
2020s3,003#501 (2020)#601

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Shelby in 2015

girls
#299
1,080 births · 1 in 1,653 girls
boys
#3,431
32 births · 1 in 59,898 boys

Top girls' names in 2015

  1. #1Emma20,487
  2. #2Olivia19,729
  3. #3Sophia17,454
  4. #4Ava16,416
  5. #5Isabella15,667
  6. #6Mia14,943
  7. #7Abigail12,422
  8. #8Emily11,808
  9. #9Charlotte11,415
  10. #10Harper10,311
  11. #299Shelby1,080

Top boys' names in 2015

  1. #1Noah19,680
  2. #2Liam18,410
  3. #3Mason16,675
  4. #4Jacob16,005
  5. #5William15,950
  6. #6Ethan15,103
  7. #7James14,865
  8. #8Alexander14,584
  9. #9Michael14,504
  10. #10Benjamin13,732
  11. #3,431Shelby32
More about 2015

girls

1,785,098 girls got a published name in 2015; 1 in 1,653 of them was named Shelby, which outranked 98.4% of the 19,130 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 8.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shelby
  1. #296Diana1,091
  2. #296Mariana1,091
  3. #298Jenna1,089
  4. #299Shelby1,080
  5. #299Nina1,080
  6. #301Elliana1,070
  7. #302Jada1,068
  8. #303Madeleine1,067

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 2014
Risers
  1. 1,984Alaia#2,648#664
  2. 1,835Meilani#2,781#946
  3. 1,733Aitana#2,648#915
  4. 1,387Aislinn#2,351#964
  5. 1,072Taya#2,049#977
Fallers
  1. 1,075Isis#703#1,778
  2. 502Annabell#923#1,425
  3. 500Anabel#911#1,411
  4. 344Cindy#711#1,055
  5. 334Anabella#529#863

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,916,743 boys got a published name in 2015; 1 in 59,898 of them was named Shelby, which outranked 75.6% of the 14,059 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 8.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shelby
  1. #3,365Yonathan33
  2. #3,365Zabdiel33
  3. #3,365Zaeem33
  4. #3,431Shelby32
  5. #3,431Adhrit32
  6. #3,431Advay32
  7. #3,431Akil32
  8. #3,513Aadhav31
  9. #3,513Alfonzo31
  10. #3,513Amaris31

Tied with 81 names at #3,431; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 2014
Risers
  1. 1,348Riaan#2,277#929
  2. 397Huxley#1,355#958
  3. 355Wilder#1,313#958
  4. 284Jaziel#1,218#934
  5. 268Canaan#1,074#806
Fallers
  1. 676Arnav#891#1,567
  2. 262Jayse#906#1,168
  3. 239Neymar#551#790
  4. 228Rylee#877#1,105
  5. 204Johnathon#915#1,119

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 2015