Home / Name Directory / Shelley
How Many People Are Named Shelley?
Estimated people named Shelley living in the U.S. today
61,134
Gender distribution
1% male · 99% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 74,326
- Peak year: 1964 (2,845 births)
- Estimated living today: 61,134
Shelley by age group — who carries the name today?
Shelley popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Shelley
Shelley has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 74,326 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 61,134 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 5,591 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Shelleys 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 Shelley in the US?
An estimated 61,134 people named Shelley are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Shelley rare — about 1 in 5,591 Americans.
Is Shelley a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Shelley is 1% male and 99% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was Shelley most popular?
Shelley peaked in 1964, when 2,845 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Shelley?
Shelley ranks #780 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 44 out of 100 (higher means rarer).