Home / Name Directory / Shelly
How Many People Are Named Shelly?
Estimated people named Shelly living in the U.S. today
74,679
Gender distribution
2% male · 98% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 86,588
- Peak year: 1964 (4,128 births)
- Estimated living today: 74,679
Shelly by age group — who carries the name today?
Shelly popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Shelly
Shelly has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 86,588 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 74,679 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 4,577 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Shellys 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 Shelly in the US?
An estimated 74,679 people named Shelly are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Shelly rare — about 1 in 4,577 Americans.
Is Shelly a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Shelly is 2% male and 98% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was Shelly most popular?
Shelly peaked in 1964, when 4,128 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Shelly?
Shelly ranks #676 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 43 out of 100 (higher means rarer).