Home / Name Directory / Shelby
How Many People Are Named Shelby?
Estimated people named Shelby living in the U.S. today
147,139
Gender distribution
8% male · 92% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 164,786
- Peak year: 1991 (10,744 births)
- Estimated living today: 147,139
Shelby by age group — who carries the name today?
Shelby popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Shelby
Shelby has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 164,786 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 147,139 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 2,323 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Shelbys you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Shelby in the US?
An estimated 147,139 people named Shelby are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Shelby uncommon — about 1 in 2,323 Americans.
Is Shelby a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Shelby is 8% male and 92% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was Shelby most popular?
Shelby peaked in 1991, when 10,744 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Shelby?
Shelby ranks #362 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 39 out of 100 (higher means rarer).