Sheldon

Last seen for girls in 2002 at #11,108 · #2,765 for boys in 2025, 46 births
Given to boys 98.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1936 · 453 births
Debut · boys
7 births
In top 100 · boys
never
of 146 years
Total births · boys
36,676
since 1881

Sheldon over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Sheldon has never cracked the top 200 here.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201986peak #247, 1936boys
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#2,76546
2024#1,93881
2023#2,31560
2022#2,15068
2021#2,04072
2020#1,87279
2019#1,534110
2018#1,396126
2017#1,335134
2016#1,356131
2015#1,279140
2014#1,143166
2013#1,054180
2012#942216
2011#1,066176
2010#984200
2009#1,027189
2008#952211
2007#955206
2006#841242
2005#772257
2004#760239
2003#767230
2002#11,1088#687265
2001#9,35110#601329
2000#10,7458#623301
1999#9,4799#552363
1998#6,36015#520401
1997#6,48314#475454
1996#5,28018#476460
1995#4,84620#458493
1994#4,23824#437520
1993#7,49811#446490
1992#5,71816#380608
1991#5,65916#414547
1990#5,83515#441501
1989#6,95511#484391
1988#5,89513#462387
1987#7,9878#462367
1986#4,34718#463352
1985#5,34813#480326
1984#10,4225#479305
1983#10,2755#491294
1982#9,2376#513274
1981#8,1287#462323
1980#468321
1979#9,0106#451322
1978#6,3859#448316
1977#7,5677#430339
1976#8,1566#392391
1975#6,4848#399368
1974#6,2588#411361
1973#5,5809#426338
1972#6,5587#440324
1971#6,6197#412382
1970#5,4139#392416
1969#4,41811#390408
1968#7,0165#388402
1967#6,0426#382390
1966#4,4939#386392
1965#3,40214#393396
1964#6,0096#393412
1963#3,45814#404398
1962#5,2937#384436
1961#6,5675#394408
1960#401390
1959#408377
1958#385412
1957#4,9187#373425
1956#363414
1955#5,8285#383353
1954#3,9679#354409
1953#5,6735#391323
1952#354367
1951#3,7149#380320
1950#4,7386#335404
1949#345377
1948#5,2435#336401
1947#333429
1946#323395
1945#309368
1944#310380
1943#3,8017#286458
1942#292432
1941#3,5597#283414
1940#284384
1939#285374
1938#262438
1937#257437
1936#3,1038#247453
1935#249465
1934#250462
1933#252429
1932#265423
1931#4,3315#272410
1930#282405
1929#276403
1928#276421
1927#302370
1926#303351
1925#318323
1924#329311
1923#380243
1922#391233
1921#406223
1920#422200
1919#416198
1918#455170
1917#470147
1916#488135
1915#493125
1914#51690
1913#56459
1912#46373
1911#60525
1910#78215
1909#65317
1908#65716
1907#66415
1906#56817
1905#1,2335
1904#68612
1903#73410
1902#74410
1901#63711
1900#69913
1899#1,0515
1898#1,0026
1897#8527
1896#8268
1895
1894#9546
1893
1892#7489
1891
1890
1889#8786
1888
1887#8196
1886#9595
1885#9365
1884#7647
1883
1882
1881#7067
1880
First appearance
1881

The first year at least five boys were named Sheldon! It came in at #706, and was given to 7 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1882–1883, when fewer than 5 boys a year got the name.

Where Sheldon is popular in 1986

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedNHWashington: #488 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 6,261 boysWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #356 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 6,147 boysMNIllinois: #548 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 6,652 boysILWisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedWIMichigan: #318 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 3,754 boysMINew York: #391 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 4,073 boysNYMassachusetts: #338 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 4,903 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedRIOregon: #337 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 3,595 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedIAIndiana: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedINOhio: #691 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 15,098 boysOHPennsylvania: #303 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 3,861 boysPANew Jersey: #542 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 7,930 boysNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #582 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 7,610 boysCAUtah: #252 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 2,065 boysUTColorado: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedNEMissouri: #377 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 4,497 boysMOKentucky: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedWVVirginia: #476 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 6,302 boysVAMaryland: #381 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 4,716 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedDEArizona: #412 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,888 boysAZNew Mexico: #252 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,419 boysNMKansas: #289 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 2,877 boysKSArkansas: #319 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 2,952 boysARTennessee: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedTNNorth Carolina: #358 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 3,407 boysNCSouth Carolina: #259 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,916 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #344 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,212 boysOKLouisiana: #458 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 3,783 boysLAMississippi: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedMSAlabama: fewer than 5 boys named Sheldon, so not publishedALGeorgia: #329 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 2,946 boysGAHawaii: #148 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 721 boysHITexas: #583 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 6,651 boysTXFlorida: #359 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 3,184 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Hawaii#148 · 1 in 721
  2. New Mexico#252 · 1 in 1,419
  3. Utah#252 · 1 in 2,065
  4. South Carolina#259 · 1 in 1,916
  5. Kansas#289 · 1 in 2,877

Best ever in a state: #65 in Hawaii, 1977.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#14891 in 721
New Mexico#25281 in 1,419
Utah#25281 in 2,065
South Carolina#259111 in 1,916
Kansas#28961 in 2,877
Pennsylvania#303201 in 3,861
Michigan#318171 in 3,754
Arkansas#31951 in 2,952
Georgia#329151 in 2,946
Oregon#33751 in 3,595
Massachusetts#33881 in 4,903
Oklahoma#34471 in 3,212
Minnesota#35651 in 6,147
North Carolina#358121 in 3,407
Florida#359241 in 3,184
Missouri#37781 in 4,497
Maryland#38161 in 4,716
New York#391301 in 4,073
Arizona#41271 in 3,888
Louisiana#45891 in 3,783
Virginia#47661 in 6,302
Washington#48851 in 6,261
New Jersey#54261 in 7,930
Illinois#548121 in 6,652
California#582301 in 7,610
Texas#583221 in 6,651
Ohio#69151 in 15,098
Alabama
Alaska
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kentucky
Maine
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Tennessee
Vermont
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys 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 Sheldon
Momentum · boys
Falling
  • 827 spots since 2024 (#1,938#2,765)
  • 893 spots since 2020 (#1,872#2,765)
  • 1,486 spots since 2015 (#1,279#2,765)
  • Biggest jump: 665 spots in 1906 (#1,233#568)
  • Biggest drop: 547 spots in 1905 (#686#1,233)
Rise & fade · boys
55 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1881
  • Peaked 1936 at #247 (453 births)
  • Births halved by 2007, 71 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 1,000 for 120 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 120 yrs · run 1906–2008
Share of babies · boys
1 in 2,235
  • Highest: 1 in 2,235 boys born in 1934 were named Sheldon (0.04%)
  • Latest: 1 in 37,132 boys born in 2025 (0.00%)
  • Its best rank, #247 in 1936, was only 1 in 2,290 (0.04%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1990s
  • 13.2% of all boys named Sheldon (4,837) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s36#706 (1881)#844
1890s41#748 (1892)#906
1900s126#568 (1906)#728
1910s1,037#416 (1919)#525
1920s3,078#276 (1928)#340
1930s4,296#247 (1936)#262
1940s4,038#283 (1941)#310
1950s3,804#335 (1950)#373
1960s4,032#382 (1967)#392
1970s3,557#392 (1970)#420
1980s3,340#462 (1988)#476
1990s4,837#380 (1992)#460
2000s2,469#601 (2001)#799
2010s1,579#942 (2012)#1,209
2020s406#1,872 (2020)#2,180

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

Sheldon in 1986

girls
#4,347
18 births · 1 in 95,308 girls
boys
#463
352 births · 1 in 5,232 boys

Top girls' names in 1986

  1. #1Jessica52,682
  2. #2Ashley49,671
  3. #3Amanda40,532
  4. #4Jennifer36,187
  5. #5Sarah28,163
  6. #6Stephanie22,651
  7. #7Nicole21,292
  8. #8Brittany20,313
  9. #9Heather19,790
  10. #10Elizabeth19,074
  11. #4,347Sheldon18

Top boys' names in 1986

  1. #1Michael64,235
  2. #2Christopher56,693
  3. #3Matthew46,929
  4. #4Joshua37,542
  5. #5David37,150
  6. #6Daniel36,573
  7. #7James34,057
  8. #8Andrew33,858
  9. #9Robert31,350
  10. #10John30,209
  11. #463Sheldon352
More about 1986

girls

1,715,547 girls got a published name in 1986; 1 in 95,308 of them was named Sheldon, which outranked 66.1% of the 12,836 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 18.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Sheldon
  1. #4,186Trevor19
  2. #4,186Vaness19
  3. #4,186Yashica19
  4. #4,347Sheldon18
  5. #4,347Aaliyah18
  6. #4,347Abigayle18
  7. #4,347Aigner18
  8. #4,539Adelia17
  9. #4,539Adrina17
  10. #4,539Albert17

Tied with 191 names at #4,347; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1985
Risers
  1. 9,719Kyrie#10,677#958
  2. 4,778Sable#5,678#900
  3. 2,034Eliana#2,484#450
  4. 1,497Shatara#2,484#987
  5. 1,374Cherrelle#2,253#879
Fallers
  1. 442Violeta#963#1,405
  2. 361Micaela#545#906
  3. 361Tasia#572#933
  4. 324Jo#925#1,249
  5. 306Tammie#987#1,293

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

boys

1,841,515 boys got a published name in 1986; 1 in 5,232 of them was named Sheldon, which outranked 94.1% of the 7,830 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Sheldon
  1. #459Zackary364
  2. #461Brendon360
  3. #462Robin354
  4. #463Sheldon352
  5. #463Donte352
  6. #465Quincy350
  7. #466Jeff346
  8. #467Guy344

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

Biggest movers since 1985
Risers
  1. 1,279Spenser#2,226#947
  2. 920Jayce#1,614#694
  3. 714Addison#1,228#514
  4. 649Payton#1,614#965
  5. 573Cordell#1,181#608
Fallers
  1. 409Ulises#877#1,286
  2. 365Eliot#934#1,299
  3. 322Jordy#998#1,320
  4. 313Trace#956#1,269
  5. 292Kennith#963#1,255

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

See the top 100 for 1986