Shelley
#7,885 for girls in 2025, 13 births · Last seen for boys in 2001 at #10,556
Given to girls 97.6% of the time
- Peak · girls
- 1972 · 2,384 births
- Debut · girls
- 6 births
- In top 100 · girls
- neverof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 72,586since 1892
Shelley over time
Rank among girls' names. Shelley has never cracked the top 100 here.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #7,885 | 13 | — | |
| 2024 | #8,946 | 11 | — | |
| 2023 | #10,312 | 9 | — | |
| 2022 | #12,243 | 7 | — | |
| 2021 | #8,978 | 11 | — | |
| 2020 | #7,212 | 15 | — | |
| 2019 | #8,597 | 12 | — | |
| 2018 | #8,617 | 12 | — | |
| 2017 | #8,776 | 12 | — | |
| 2016 | #6,901 | 17 | — | |
| 2015 | #8,447 | 13 | — | |
| 2014 | #5,993 | 21 | — | |
| 2013 | #7,372 | 16 | — | |
| 2012 | #7,144 | 17 | — | |
| 2011 | #5,207 | 26 | — | |
| 2010 | #4,974 | 28 | — | |
| 2009 | #4,805 | 30 | — | |
| 2008 | #4,268 | 36 | — | |
| 2007 | #4,299 | 35 | — | |
| 2006 | #3,795 | 40 | — | |
| 2005 | #3,809 | 38 | — | |
| 2004 | #3,490 | 42 | — | |
| 2003 | #3,412 | 42 | — | |
| 2002 | #3,461 | 39 | — | |
| 2001 | #2,540 | 60 | #10,556 | 5 |
| 2000 | #2,258 | 69 | — | |
| 1999 | #1,857 | 85 | — | |
| 1998 | #1,690 | 94 | #5,840 | 10 |
| 1997 | #1,530 | 105 | — | |
| 1996 | #1,466 | 112 | — | |
| 1995 | #1,131 | 155 | #5,501 | 10 |
| 1994 | #1,105 | 162 | — | |
| 1993 | #870 | 223 | — | |
| 1992 | #774 | 266 | — | |
| 1991 | #797 | 257 | #8,236 | 5 |
| 1990 | #705 | 298 | #7,178 | 6 |
| 1989 | #577 | 380 | #6,941 | 6 |
| 1988 | #519 | 426 | #6,426 | 6 |
| 1987 | #442 | 502 | #6,951 | 5 |
| 1986 | #400 | 563 | #4,853 | 8 |
| 1985 | #395 | 569 | #4,333 | 9 |
| 1984 | #329 | 706 | #4,973 | 7 |
| 1983 | #300 | 777 | #5,484 | 6 |
| 1982 | #288 | 848 | #3,692 | 11 |
| 1981 | #273 | 912 | #3,858 | 10 |
| 1980 | #226 | 1,131 | #2,831 | 16 |
| 1979 | #243 | 1,065 | #2,777 | 16 |
| 1978 | #238 | 1,028 | #2,473 | 18 |
| 1977 | #226 | 1,104 | #2,791 | 15 |
| 1976 | #194 | 1,275 | #2,245 | 20 |
| 1975 | #170 | 1,547 | #1,948 | 24 |
| 1974 | #142 | 1,997 | #2,129 | 20 |
| 1973 | #128 | 2,258 | #1,435 | 35 |
| 1972 | #126 | 2,384 | #1,535 | 31 |
| 1971 | #140 | 2,274 | #1,637 | 29 |
| 1970 | #144 | 2,351 | #1,615 | 28 |
| 1969 | #135 | 2,479 | #1,492 | 29 |
| 1968 | #129 | 2,483 | #1,788 | 20 |
| 1967 | #141 | 2,510 | #1,809 | 19 |
| 1966 | #140 | 2,545 | #1,540 | 25 |
| 1965 | #148 | 2,528 | #1,806 | 19 |
| 1964 | #143 | 2,821 | #1,615 | 24 |
| 1963 | #148 | 2,734 | #2,044 | 16 |
| 1962 | #162 | 2,476 | #1,588 | 25 |
| 1961 | #180 | 2,141 | #1,233 | 41 |
| 1960 | #182 | 2,139 | #2,121 | 15 |
| 1959 | #191 | 1,848 | #1,865 | 19 |
| 1958 | #197 | 1,722 | #1,483 | 28 |
| 1957 | #200 | 1,722 | #1,511 | 27 |
| 1956 | #196 | 1,681 | #1,568 | 25 |
| 1955 | #192 | 1,738 | #1,503 | 26 |
| 1954 | #161 | 2,177 | #1,408 | 29 |
| 1953 | #168 | 1,937 | #1,155 | 41 |
| 1952 | #163 | 1,886 | #1,245 | 35 |
| 1951 | #166 | 1,845 | #1,052 | 46 |
| 1950 | #170 | 1,670 | #1,272 | 32 |
| 1949 | #233 | 1,017 | #1,348 | 29 |
| 1948 | #391 | 413 | #1,758 | 18 |
| 1947 | #577 | 219 | #1,336 | 30 |
| 1946 | #570 | 196 | #1,382 | 26 |
| 1945 | #561 | 171 | #1,249 | 28 |
| 1944 | #638 | 132 | #1,370 | 24 |
| 1943 | #734 | 111 | #1,486 | 22 |
| 1942 | #762 | 98 | #1,537 | 21 |
| 1941 | #1,006 | 53 | #1,588 | 19 |
| 1940 | #906 | 63 | #1,573 | 19 |
| 1939 | #918 | 59 | #1,879 | 14 |
| 1938 | #1,219 | 36 | #1,689 | 17 |
| 1937 | #1,035 | 47 | #1,403 | 23 |
| 1936 | #1,053 | 44 | #1,417 | 22 |
| 1935 | #1,055 | 43 | #1,837 | 15 |
| 1934 | #1,236 | 33 | #1,461 | 22 |
| 1933 | #1,364 | 28 | #2,214 | 11 |
| 1932 | #1,520 | 25 | #1,716 | 18 |
| 1931 | #1,258 | 33 | #2,328 | 11 |
| 1930 | #2,202 | 15 | #1,693 | 19 |
| 1929 | #2,437 | 13 | #2,317 | 12 |
| 1928 | #2,381 | 14 | #1,480 | 25 |
| 1927 | #2,552 | 13 | #1,561 | 24 |
| 1926 | #3,046 | 10 | #2,074 | 15 |
| 1925 | #4,426 | 6 | #2,012 | 16 |
| 1924 | #4,434 | 6 | #2,043 | 16 |
| 1923 | #3,971 | 7 | #2,020 | 16 |
| 1922 | #3,655 | 8 | #1,222 | 35 |
| 1921 | #4,023 | 7 | #1,648 | 22 |
| 1920 | #2,899 | 11 | #1,694 | 21 |
| 1919 | — | #1,408 | 26 | |
| 1918 | #3,512 | 8 | #1,998 | 16 |
| 1917 | #4,083 | 6 | #1,986 | 15 |
| 1916 | — | #1,594 | 20 | |
| 1915 | #3,134 | 8 | #1,217 | 29 |
| 1914 | #3,618 | 5 | #2,101 | 10 |
| 1913 | — | #1,580 | 12 | |
| 1912 | #2,979 | 5 | #2,045 | 7 |
| 1911 | — | #1,190 | 9 | |
| 1910 | — | #1,045 | 10 | |
| 1909 | #2,208 | 5 | #1,020 | 9 |
| 1908 | — | #1,217 | 6 | |
| 1907 | — | #1,200 | 6 | |
| 1906 | — | #852 | 9 | |
| 1905 | — | #1,091 | 6 | |
| 1904 | — | #874 | 8 | |
| 1903 | — | — | ||
| 1902 | — | — | ||
| 1901 | — | — | ||
| 1900 | — | #902 | 9 | |
| 1899 | — | #714 | 9 | |
| 1898 | #1,700 | 5 | #1,121 | 5 |
| 1897 | — | — | ||
| 1896 | — | #1,101 | 5 | |
| 1895 | — | #872 | 7 | |
| 1894 | — | #1,074 | 5 | |
| 1893 | — | #768 | 8 | |
| 1892 | #1,278 | 6 | — | |
| 1891 | — | — | ||
| 1890 | — | — | ||
| 1889 | — | — | ||
| 1888 | — | — | ||
| 1887 | — | — | ||
| 1886 | — | — | ||
| 1885 | — | — | ||
| 1884 | — | — | ||
| 1883 | — | — | ||
| 1882 | — | — | ||
| 1881 | — | — | ||
| 1880 | — | — | ||
The first year at least five girls were named Shelley! It came in at #1,278, and was given to 6 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 1893–1914, when fewer than 6 girls a year got the name.
Where Shelley is popular in 1972
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Oklahoma#57 · 1 in 251
- New Hampshire#66 · 1 in 247
- Oregon#80 · 1 in 308
- Utah#89 · 1 in 363
- Maine#89 · 1 in 363
Best ever in a state: #40 in Idaho, 1964.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | #57 | 65 | 1 in 251 |
| New Hampshire | #66 | 18 | 1 in 247 |
| Oregon | #80 | 41 | 1 in 308 |
| Maine | #89 | 18 | 1 in 363 |
| Missouri | #89 | 80 | 1 in 391 |
| Utah | #89 | 29 | 1 in 363 |
| Arkansas | #91 | 34 | 1 in 385 |
| Indiana | #92 | 94 | 1 in 394 |
| Wyoming | #92 | 6 | 1 in 290 |
| Kansas | #95 | 33 | 1 in 373 |
| Iowa | #97 | 43 | 1 in 405 |
| Ohio | #98 | 174 | 1 in 428 |
| Washington | #102 | 50 | 1 in 384 |
| Texas | #103 | 201 | 1 in 479 |
| Michigan | #108 | 127 | 1 in 487 |
| Tennessee | #112 | 57 | 1 in 497 |
| Idaho | #113 | 11 | 1 in 431 |
| Hawaii | #114 | 12 | 1 in 371 |
| Massachusetts | #117 | 59 | 1 in 580 |
| Wisconsin | #117 | 52 | 1 in 529 |
| Maryland | #118 | 39 | 1 in 528 |
| Kentucky | #123 | 43 | 1 in 552 |
| District of Columbia | #124 | 17 | 1 in 436 |
| Connecticut | #128 | 27 | 1 in 586 |
| Louisiana | #128 | 51 | 1 in 520 |
| Nevada | #128 | 6 | 1 in 455 |
| West Virginia | #131 | 22 | 1 in 554 |
| Alaska | #134 | 5 | 1 in 419 |
| New Mexico | #135 | 15 | 1 in 509 |
| Alabama | #136 | 45 | 1 in 537 |
| California | #137 | 221 | 1 in 620 |
| Nebraska | #138 | 16 | 1 in 585 |
| North Carolina | #138 | 62 | 1 in 592 |
| Rhode Island | #139 | 8 | 1 in 649 |
| South Carolina | #140 | 31 | 1 in 620 |
| Minnesota | #142 | 39 | 1 in 617 |
| Georgia | #143 | 58 | 1 in 620 |
| North Dakota | #143 | 7 | 1 in 565 |
| Arizona | #145 | 24 | 1 in 603 |
| Florida | #145 | 64 | 1 in 695 |
| Virginia | #147 | 42 | 1 in 705 |
| Colorado | #150 | 25 | 1 in 630 |
| Illinois | #154 | 95 | 1 in 785 |
| Pennsylvania | #158 | 91 | 1 in 792 |
| South Dakota | #163 | 6 | 1 in 638 |
| Mississippi | #188 | 21 | 1 in 825 |
| New York | #280 | 71 | 1 in 1,561 |
| New Jersey | #361 | 17 | 1 in 2,396 |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
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 Shelley
- 1,061 spots since 2024 (#8,946 → #7,885)
- 673 spots since 2020 (#7,212 → #7,885)
- 562 spots since 2015 (#8,447 → #7,885)
- Biggest jump: 301 spots in 1939 (#1,219 → #918)
- Biggest drop: 235 spots in 1994 (#870 → #1,105)
- Debuted 1892
- Peaked 1972 at #126 (2,384 births)
- Births halved by 1977, 5 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: never
- Top 1,000: 54 yrs · run 1942–1993
- Highest: 1 in 638 girls born in 1972 were named Shelley (0.16%)
- Latest: 1 in 123,636 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
- 34.2% of all girls named Shelley (24,856) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 11 | #1,278 (1892) | #1,489 |
| 1900s | 5 | #2,208 (1909) | #2,208 |
| 1910s | 32 | #2,979 (1912) | #3,465 |
| 1920s | 95 | #2,381 (1928) | #3,382 |
| 1930s | 363 | #918 (1939) | #1,286 |
| 1940s | 2,473 | #233 (1949) | #638 |
| 1950s | 18,226 | #161 (1954) | #180 |
| 1960s | 24,856 | #129 (1968) | #151 |
| 1970s | 17,283 | #126 (1972) | #175 |
| 1980s | 6,814 | #226 (1980) | #375 |
| 1990s | 1,757 | #705 (1990) | #1,193 |
| 2000s | 431 | #2,258 (2000) | #3,614 |
| 2010s | 174 | #4,974 (2010) | #7,203 |
| 2020s | 66 | #7,212 (2020) | #9,263 |
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.
Shelley in 1972
Top girls' names in 1972
Top boys' names in 1972
More about 1972
girls
1,521,244 girls got a published name in 1972; 1 in 638 of them was named Shelley, which outranked 98.7% of the 9,666 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.6% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,621,608 boys got a published name in 1972; 1 in 52,310 of them was named Shelley, which outranked 73.3% of the 5,751 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 26.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #1,508Santo32
- #1,508Shaft32
- #1,508Teodoro32
- #1,535Shelley31
- #1,535Angus31
- #1,535Bertrand31
- #1,535Burl31
- #1,566Amado30
- #1,566Anselmo30
- #1,566Antwain30
Tied with 30 names at #1,535; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.