Shelly

#5,722 for girls in 2025, 21 births · Last seen for boys in 2007 at #12,367
Given to girls 97.5% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1966 · 3,856 births
Debut · girls
5 births
In top 100 · girls
5 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
84,420
since 1916

Shelly over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201962peak #89, 1966girls
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#5,72221
2024#4,56030
2023#5,96020
2022#4,79328
2021#4,50730
2020#5,00325
2019#4,65329
2018#4,66229
2017#4,22034
2016#4,08336
2015#3,47845
2014#3,22650
2013#3,12352
2012#3,16952
2011#3,84339
2010#2,97657
2009#2,39680
2008#2,66369
2007#2,54173#12,3675
2006#2,16589
2005#1,790109
2004#1,883100
2003#1,676114
2002#1,535123
2001#1,499125#10,5565
2000#1,301147
1999#1,206158
1998#1,129168
1997#1,130166
1996#904217#7,1367
1995#819240
1994#738281#7,7706
1993#697307#6,8167
1992#647348
1991#538434#7,2716
1990#564413#5,8238
1989#504466#4,01713
1988#429537#5,7517
1987#371629
1986#325744#5,3327
1985#281885#5,7856
1984#258949#4,2159
1983#2301,073#4,4998
1982#2261,137#3,28213
1981#2121,228#4,1539
1980#1861,451#3,43012
1979#1821,456#2,31021
1978#1751,501#1,87027
1977#1511,848#2,66516
1976#1451,861#1,93225
1975#1132,484#1,78727
1974#1072,797#1,61830
1973#1042,910#1,37637
1972#943,288#1,36438
1971#1033,637#1,56031
1970#1033,751#1,35138
1969#1023,676#1,32636
1968#983,595#1,16542
1967#943,648#1,47627
1966#893,856#1,40130
1965#983,850#1,12944
1964#1014,080#1,11447
1963#1173,790#1,40331
1962#1303,480#1,42330
1961#1452,994#1,26239
1960#1572,692#1,25239
1959#1881,883#1,55926
1958#2211,379#1,32134
1957#2441,210#1,27837
1956#291929#1,33533
1955#306786#1,72520
1954#306759#1,16941
1953#356571#1,33132
1952#355538#1,15241
1951#415407#1,15039
1950#440333#92655
1949#615181#1,18536
1948#863102#1,19436
1947#1,03174#1,27133
1946#99771#1,50922
1945#87374#1,07836
1944#1,07952#1,21230
1943#97566#1,17034
1942#1,03757#1,24431
1941#1,29435#1,25428
1940#1,21836#1,25129
1939#1,16039#1,32325
1938#1,31631#1,31026
1937#1,30331#1,21230
1936#1,74119#1,18231
1935#1,84518#1,29527
1934#1,91317#1,35725
1933#3,7536#1,82915
1932#1,95717#1,46523
1931#2,75010#1,84316
1930#4,0476#1,46325
1929#1,48024
1928#3,7437#1,16537
1927#2,69912#1,74820
1926#4,8515#1,43226
1925#1,62822
1924#3,3939#1,28732
1923#3,6418#1,35829
1922#4,4456#1,95217
1921#2,05916
1920#1,88518
1919#1,81118
1918#1,53923
1917#1,98615
1916#4,4175#1,69818
1915#1,87815
1914#1,60815
1913#1,49713
1912#1,7469
1911
1910
1909#1,0838
1908
1907#1,3455
1906
1905#1,2335
1904#8748
1903
1902#8628
1901#7798
1900#9688
1899#9286
1898#8857
1897#7878
1896
1895#9786
1894#8577
1893#7059
1892
1891#8416
1890#9945
1889#7228
1888
1887
1886#9595
1885
1884
1883
1882#7547
1881
1880
First appearance
1916

The first year at least five girls were named Shelly! It came in at #4,417, and was given to 5 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1916–1921, when fewer than 6 girls a year got the name.

Where Shelly is popular in 1962

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Shelly, so not publishedAKMaine: #114 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 472 girlsMEVermont: #74 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 243 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #123 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 505 girlsNHWashington: #52 for girls · 137 births · 1 in 203 girlsWAIdaho: #53 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 195 girlsIDMontana: #41 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 148 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #34 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 138 girlsNDMinnesota: #67 for girls · 147 births · 1 in 258 girlsMNIllinois: #144 for girls · 154 births · 1 in 668 girlsILWisconsin: #103 for girls · 96 births · 1 in 441 girlsWIMichigan: #77 for girls · 258 births · 1 in 318 girlsMINew York: #247 for girls · 116 births · 1 in 1,408 girlsNYMassachusetts: #242 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 1,771 girlsMARhode Island: #215 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,566 girlsRIOregon: #50 for girls · 77 births · 1 in 200 girlsORNevada: #70 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 229 girlsNVWyoming: #58 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 183 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #41 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 156 girlsSDIowa: #53 for girls · 142 births · 1 in 193 girlsIAIndiana: #90 for girls · 125 births · 1 in 387 girlsINOhio: #111 for girls · 212 births · 1 in 464 girlsOHPennsylvania: #145 for girls · 145 births · 1 in 720 girlsPANew Jersey: #297 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 2,282 girlsNJConnecticut: #246 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,578 girlsCTCalifornia: #96 for girls · 433 births · 1 in 401 girlsCAUtah: #34 for girls · 71 births · 1 in 149 girlsUTColorado: #57 for girls · 86 births · 1 in 223 girlsCONebraska: #55 for girls · 70 births · 1 in 205 girlsNEMissouri: #102 for girls · 105 births · 1 in 406 girlsMOKentucky: #252 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,541 girlsKYWest Virginia: #153 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 733 girlsWVVirginia: #246 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 1,547 girlsVAMaryland: #156 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 751 girlsMDDelaware: #176 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 874 girlsDEArizona: #108 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 396 girlsAZNew Mexico: #148 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 524 girlsNMKansas: #51 for girls · 96 births · 1 in 207 girlsKSArkansas: #125 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 569 girlsARTennessee: #292 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 2,094 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #256 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 1,766 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #372 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,820 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #196 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 933 girlsDCOklahoma: #46 for girls · 123 births · 1 in 168 girlsOKLouisiana: #212 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 1,119 girlsLAMississippi: #282 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,647 girlsMSAlabama: #291 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 1,755 girlsALGeorgia: #331 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 2,427 girlsGAHawaii: #86 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 318 girlsHITexas: #162 for girls · 157 births · 1 in 704 girlsTXFlorida: #218 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 1,172 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. North Dakota#34 · 1 in 138
  2. Utah#34 · 1 in 149
  3. Montana#41 · 1 in 148
  4. South Dakota#41 · 1 in 156
  5. Oklahoma#46 · 1 in 168

Best ever in a state: #17 in Oklahoma, 1972.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
North Dakota#34451 in 138
Utah#34711 in 149
Montana#41421 in 148
South Dakota#41431 in 156
Oklahoma#461231 in 168
Oregon#50771 in 200
Kansas#51961 in 207
Washington#521371 in 203
Idaho#53311 in 195
Iowa#531421 in 193
Nebraska#55701 in 205
Colorado#57861 in 223
Wyoming#58141 in 183
Minnesota#671471 in 258
Nevada#70121 in 229
Vermont#74141 in 243
Michigan#772581 in 318
Hawaii#86201 in 318
Indiana#901251 in 387
California#964331 in 401
Missouri#1021051 in 406
Wisconsin#103961 in 441
Arizona#108391 in 396
Ohio#1112121 in 464
Maine#114211 in 472
New Hampshire#123111 in 505
Arkansas#125311 in 569
Illinois#1441541 in 668
Pennsylvania#1451451 in 720
New Mexico#148221 in 524
West Virginia#153221 in 733
Maryland#156391 in 751
Texas#1621571 in 704
Delaware#17651 in 874
District of Columbia#196141 in 933
Louisiana#212341 in 1,119
Rhode Island#21551 in 1,566
Florida#218421 in 1,172
Massachusetts#242291 in 1,771
Connecticut#246151 in 1,578
Virginia#246261 in 1,547
New York#2471161 in 1,408
Kentucky#252201 in 1,541
North Carolina#256271 in 1,766
Mississippi#282151 in 1,647
Alabama#291191 in 1,755
Tennessee#292171 in 2,094
New Jersey#297251 in 2,282
Georgia#331181 in 2,427
South Carolina#37291 in 2,820
Alaska

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 Shelly
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 1,162 spots since 2024 (#4,560#5,722)
  • 719 spots since 2020 (#5,003#5,722)
  • 2,244 spots since 2015 (#3,478#5,722)
  • Biggest jump: 248 spots in 1949 (#863#615)
  • Biggest drop: 226 spots in 1997 (#904#1,130)
Rise & fade · girls
50 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1916
  • Peaked 1966 at #89 (3,856 births)
  • Births halved by 1976, 10 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 5 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 5 yrs · run 1965–1968
  • Top 1,000: 52 yrs · run 1948–1996
Share of babies · girls
1 in 439
  • Highest: 1 in 439 girls born in 1966 were named Shelly (0.23%)
  • Latest: 1 in 76,537 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
Era · girls
The 1960s
  • 42.2% of all girls named Shelly (35,661) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1910s5#4,417 (1916)#4,417
1920s47#2,699 (1927)#3,795
1930s194#1,160 (1939)#2,179
1940s748#615 (1949)#998
1950s8,795#188 (1959)#312
1960s35,661#89 (1966)#113
1970s25,533#94 (1972)#128
1980s9,099#186 (1980)#302
1990s2,732#538 (1991)#837
2000s1,029#1,301 (2000)#1,945
2010s423#2,976 (2010)#3,743
2020s154#4,507 (2021)#5,091

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.

Shelly in 1962

girls
#130
3,480 births · 1 in 565 girls
boys
#1,423
30 births · 1 in 68,959 boys

Top girls' names in 1962

  1. #1Lisa46,069
  2. #2Mary43,502
  3. #3Susan35,752
  4. #4Karen35,184
  5. #5Linda31,461
  6. #6Patricia26,532
  7. #7Donna25,719
  8. #8Cynthia24,025
  9. #9Deborah22,889
  10. #10Sandra22,420
  11. #130Shelly3,480

Top boys' names in 1962

  1. #1Michael85,059
  2. #2David81,337
  3. #3John78,427
  4. #4James72,555
  5. #5Robert70,199
  6. #6Mark53,520
  7. #7William44,853
  8. #8Richard39,422
  9. #9Thomas36,529
  10. #10Jeffrey33,537
  11. #1,423Shelly30
More about 1962

girls

1,966,603 girls got a published name in 1962; 1 in 565 of them was named Shelly, which outranked 98.3% of the 7,584 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 15.9% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shelly
  1. #127Marilyn3,608
  2. #128Helen3,586
  3. #129Phyllis3,496
  4. #130Shelly3,480
  5. #131Sylvia3,458
  6. #132Yvonne3,382
  7. #133Alice3,249
Biggest movers since 1961
Risers
  1. 1,281Tiffany#2,070#789
  2. 879Whitney#1,627#748
  3. 541Zina#1,533#992
  4. 414Glynis#1,406#992
  5. 408Lolita#978#570
Fallers
  1. 300Fern#821#1,121
  2. 259Jacklyn#815#1,074
  3. 255Dorthy#929#1,184
  4. 224Laurene#943#1,167
  5. 215Jimmie#911#1,126

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

boys

2,068,772 boys got a published name in 1962; 1 in 68,959 of them was named Shelly, which outranked 69.3% of the 4,631 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 28.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shelly
  1. #1,403Valentine31
  2. #1,403Vidal31
  3. #1,403Wylie31
  4. #1,423Shelly30
  5. #1,423Amador30
  6. #1,423Candido30
  7. #1,423Cardell30
  8. #1,454Abram29
  9. #1,454Alfonza29
  10. #1,454Alonso29

Tied with 30 names at #1,423; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1961
Risers
  1. 490Ritchie#1,262#772
  2. 353King#1,349#996
  3. 338Arlie#1,322#984
  4. 250Robb#1,052#802
  5. 243Pernell#928#685
Fallers
  1. 351Mariano#928#1,279
  2. 349Michal#910#1,259
  3. 337Loran#958#1,295
  4. 292Sid#967#1,259
  5. 275Lorenza#940#1,215

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

See the top 100 for 1962