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

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1972 · 2,384 births
Debut · girls
6 births
In top 100 · girls
never
of 146 years
Total births · girls
72,586
since 1892

Shelley over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Shelley has never cracked the top 100 here.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201992peak #126, 1972girls
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#7,88513—
2024#8,94611—
2023#10,3129—
2022#12,2437—
2021#8,97811—
2020#7,21215—
2019#8,59712—
2018#8,61712—
2017#8,77612—
2016#6,90117—
2015#8,44713—
2014#5,99321—
2013#7,37216—
2012#7,14417—
2011#5,20726—
2010#4,97428—
2009#4,80530—
2008#4,26836—
2007#4,29935—
2006#3,79540—
2005#3,80938—
2004#3,49042—
2003#3,41242—
2002#3,46139—
2001#2,54060#10,5565
2000#2,25869—
1999#1,85785—
1998#1,69094#5,84010
1997#1,530105—
1996#1,466112—
1995#1,131155#5,50110
1994#1,105162—
1993#870223—
1992#774266—
1991#797257#8,2365
1990#705298#7,1786
1989#577380#6,9416
1988#519426#6,4266
1987#442502#6,9515
1986#400563#4,8538
1985#395569#4,3339
1984#329706#4,9737
1983#300777#5,4846
1982#288848#3,69211
1981#273912#3,85810
1980#2261,131#2,83116
1979#2431,065#2,77716
1978#2381,028#2,47318
1977#2261,104#2,79115
1976#1941,275#2,24520
1975#1701,547#1,94824
1974#1421,997#2,12920
1973#1282,258#1,43535
1972#1262,384#1,53531
1971#1402,274#1,63729
1970#1442,351#1,61528
1969#1352,479#1,49229
1968#1292,483#1,78820
1967#1412,510#1,80919
1966#1402,545#1,54025
1965#1482,528#1,80619
1964#1432,821#1,61524
1963#1482,734#2,04416
1962#1622,476#1,58825
1961#1802,141#1,23341
1960#1822,139#2,12115
1959#1911,848#1,86519
1958#1971,722#1,48328
1957#2001,722#1,51127
1956#1961,681#1,56825
1955#1921,738#1,50326
1954#1612,177#1,40829
1953#1681,937#1,15541
1952#1631,886#1,24535
1951#1661,845#1,05246
1950#1701,670#1,27232
1949#2331,017#1,34829
1948#391413#1,75818
1947#577219#1,33630
1946#570196#1,38226
1945#561171#1,24928
1944#638132#1,37024
1943#734111#1,48622
1942#76298#1,53721
1941#1,00653#1,58819
1940#90663#1,57319
1939#91859#1,87914
1938#1,21936#1,68917
1937#1,03547#1,40323
1936#1,05344#1,41722
1935#1,05543#1,83715
1934#1,23633#1,46122
1933#1,36428#2,21411
1932#1,52025#1,71618
1931#1,25833#2,32811
1930#2,20215#1,69319
1929#2,43713#2,31712
1928#2,38114#1,48025
1927#2,55213#1,56124
1926#3,04610#2,07415
1925#4,4266#2,01216
1924#4,4346#2,04316
1923#3,9717#2,02016
1922#3,6558#1,22235
1921#4,0237#1,64822
1920#2,89911#1,69421
1919—#1,40826
1918#3,5128#1,99816
1917#4,0836#1,98615
1916—#1,59420
1915#3,1348#1,21729
1914#3,6185#2,10110
1913—#1,58012
1912#2,9795#2,0457
1911—#1,1909
1910—#1,04510
1909#2,2085#1,0209
1908—#1,2176
1907—#1,2006
1906—#8529
1905—#1,0916
1904—#8748
1903——
1902——
1901——
1900—#9029
1899—#7149
1898#1,7005#1,1215
1897——
1896—#1,1015
1895—#8727
1894—#1,0745
1893—#7688
1892#1,2786—
1891——
1890——
1889——
1888——
1887——
1886——
1885——
1884——
1883——
1882——
1881——
1880——
First appearance
1892

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 1992

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedMNIllinois: #948 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 8,364 girlsILWisconsin: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedWIMichigan: #873 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 8,152 girlsMINew York: #1,539 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 16,587 girlsNYMassachusetts: #728 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 7,176 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedIAIndiana: #679 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 5,540 girlsINOhio: #734 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 6,794 girlsOHPennsylvania: #684 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 6,224 girlsPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #793 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 6,420 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedNEMissouri: #717 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 6,184 girlsMOKentucky: #322 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,332 girlsKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedWVVirginia: #506 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 3,650 girlsVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedDEArizona: #802 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 5,238 girlsAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedKSArkansas: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedARTennessee: #502 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 3,718 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #420 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 3,064 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #365 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,361 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedDCOklahoma: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedOKLouisiana: #563 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,385 girlsLAMississippi: #399 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 2,147 girlsMSAlabama: #597 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,276 girlsALGeorgia: #516 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 3,754 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Shelley, so not publishedHITexas: #814 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 6,254 girlsTXFlorida: #772 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 6,256 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Kentucky#322 · 1 in 2,332
  2. South Carolina#365 · 1 in 2,361
  3. Mississippi#399 · 1 in 2,147
  4. North Carolina#420 · 1 in 3,064
  5. Tennessee#502 · 1 in 3,718

Best ever in a state: #40 in Idaho, 1964.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Kentucky#32291 in 2,332
South Carolina#36581 in 2,361
Mississippi#39961 in 2,147
North Carolina#420131 in 3,064
Tennessee#50281 in 3,718
Virginia#506101 in 3,650
Georgia#516111 in 3,754
Louisiana#56371 in 3,385
Alabama#59751 in 4,276
Indiana#67961 in 5,540
Pennsylvania#684111 in 6,224
Missouri#71751 in 6,184
Massachusetts#72851 in 7,176
Ohio#734101 in 6,794
Florida#772121 in 6,256
California#793401 in 6,420
Arizona#80251 in 5,238
Texas#814221 in 6,254
Michigan#87371 in 8,152
Illinois#94891 in 8,364
New York#1,53971 in 16,587
Alaska———
Arkansas———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Maine———
Maryland———
Minnesota———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Jersey———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oklahoma———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
West Virginia———
Wisconsin———
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 Shelley
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 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)
Rise & fade · girls
80 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1892
  • Peaked 1972 at #126 (2,384 births)
  • Births halved by 1977, 5 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 1,000 for 54 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 54 yrs · run 1942–1993
Share of babies · girls
1 in 638
  • Highest: 1 in 638 girls born in 1972 were named Shelley (0.16%)
  • Latest: 1 in 123,636 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
Era · girls
The 1960s
  • 34.2% of all girls named Shelley (24,856) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1890s11#1,278 (1892)#1,489
1900s5#2,208 (1909)#2,208
1910s32#2,979 (1912)#3,465
1920s95#2,381 (1928)#3,382
1930s363#918 (1939)#1,286
1940s2,473#233 (1949)#638
1950s18,226#161 (1954)#180
1960s24,856#129 (1968)#151
1970s17,283#126 (1972)#175
1980s6,814#226 (1980)#375
1990s1,757#705 (1990)#1,193
2000s431#2,258 (2000)#3,614
2010s174#4,974 (2010)#7,203
2020s66#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 1992

girls
#774
266 births · 1 in 6,932 girls

Top girls' names in 1992

  1. #1Ashley38,460
  2. #2Jessica38,361
  3. #3Amanda25,039
  4. #4Brittany24,983
  5. #5Sarah24,634
  6. #6Samantha24,407
  7. #7Emily21,835
  8. #8Stephanie19,680
  9. #9Elizabeth19,035
  10. #10Megan17,842
  11. #774Shelley266
More about 1992

girls

1,843,931 girls got a published name in 1992; 1 in 6,932 of them was named Shelley, which outranked 95.0% of the 15,610 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 13.8% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shelley
  1. #771Ali268
  2. #771Mariel268
  3. #773Danica267
  4. #774Shelley266
  5. #774Ashely266
  6. #774Melisa266
  7. #777Brianda265
  8. #777Chantelle265
  9. #777Charmaine265

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

Biggest movers since 1991
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,282Darian#2,989 → #707
  2. ↑ 1,958Payton#2,660 → #702
  3. ↑ 1,450Peyton#2,034 → #584
  4. ↑ 1,115Chandler#1,656 → #541
  5. ↑ 1,080Brianda#1,857 → #777
Fallers
  1. ↓ 855Rebeccah#1,000 → #1,855
  2. ↓ 725Ieshia#717 → #1,442
  3. ↓ 502Miesha#997 → #1,499
  4. ↓ 470Unknown#794 → #1,264
  5. ↓ 356Phylicia#928 → #1,284

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

See the top 100 for 1992 →