How popular is the baby name Shelby in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Shelby.

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Popularity of the baby name Shelby


Posts that mention the name Shelby

Top girl-name debuts of all time in the U.S. baby name data (31-40)

lotus bud

Time for baby name debuts, part 2!

From 40 to 31:

Chimere & Naidelyn, 2-way tie for #40

  • Chimere debuted with 78 baby girls in 1979.
    Inspired by the Prince Matchabelli perfume Chimere.
  • Naidelyn debuted with 78 baby girls in 1998.
    Inspired by Naidelyn Navarrete, an actress on the telenovela Maria Isabel.

Joyel & Tynisa, 2-way tie for #39

  • Joyel debuted with 79 baby girls in 1975.
    I’m not sure what inspired it. Inspired by Joyelle, a character on the soap opera How to Survive a Marriage. (Thank you C in DC!)
  • Tynisa debuted with 79 baby girls in 1976.
    Inspired by the song “Tynisa (Goddess of Love)” by Major Harris.

Audreanna, #38

  • Audreanna debuted with 80 baby girls in 1989.
    I’m not sure what inspired it. Inspired by Adriana, a character on the soap opera Santa Barbara. (Thank you C in DC!)

Leilene, #37

  • Leilene debuted with 81 baby girls in 2007.
    Inspired by Leilene Ondrade, a contestant on the reality TV show Flavor of Love.

Evolet, #36

  • Evolet debuted with 82 baby girls in 2008.
    Inspired by Evolet, a character in the movie 10,000 BC.

Joyelle & Trenyce, 2-way tie for #35

  • Joyelle debuted with 88 baby girls in 1975.
    I’m not sure what inspired it. Same reason as #39.
  • Trenyce debuted with 88 baby girls in 2003.
    Inspired by singer Trenyce.

Irania & Shelva, 2-way tie for #34

  • Irania debuted with 89 baby girls in 1995.
    Inspired by Irania Paniagua, a character on the telenovela Maria Celeste.
  • Shelva debuted with 89 baby girls in 1936.
    Inspired by Shelby Barret, a character in the movie The Woman in Red.

Latrenda, #33

Aideliz, Camreigh, Rosangelica & Unnamed, 4-way tie for #32

  • Aideliz debuted with 91 baby girls in 2008.
    Inspired by Aideliz Hidalgo, a contestant on the TV beauty pageant Nuestra Belleza Latina 2008.
  • Camreigh debuted with 91 baby girls 2017.
    I’m not sure what inspired it.
  • Rosangelica debuted with 91 baby girls in 1993.
    Inspired by Rosangelica, a character on the telenovela Rosangelica.
  • Unnamed debuted with 91 baby girls in 1989.
    No inspiration; possibly related to the baby name glitch of 1989.

Alliyah, & Dalett, 2-way tie for #31

  • Alliyah debuted with 94 baby girls in 1994.
    Inspired by singer Aaliyah.
  • Dalett debuted with 94 baby girls in 2010.
    Inspired by a baby from the reality TV show Larrymania.

Do you have any thoughts on Latrenda, Audreanna, or Joyelle/Joyel?

More of the top 50 baby name debuts for girls: 50-41, 40-31, 30-21, 20-11, 10-1

Image: Adapted from LotusBud0048a (public domain) by Frank “Fg2” Gualtieri

[Latest update: 7/2021]

What gave the baby name Shelby a boost in the 1930s?

The character Shelby Barrett from the movie "The Woman in Red" (1935).
Shelby Barrett from “The Woman in Red“

The interesting name Shelva debuted in the U.S. baby data for both girls and boys in 1936. In fact it was the highest-hitting debut name for both genders that year, which is very impressive. It also became the new highest-ever girl-name debut (breaking Laquita’s record from 1930) and remained so throughout the ’40s and ’50s.

Here are the numbers:

  • 1938: 163 baby girls named Shelva [rank: 533rd]
  • 1937: 194 baby girls named Shelva [rank: 471st]
  • 1936: 89 baby girls named Shelva [rank: 710th]
    • 9 baby boys named Shelva as well
  • 1935: unlisted
  • 1934: unlisted

So where did the name Shelva come from?

It took me forever to figure this one out, but the answer is that it’s a variant of the name Shelby.

Turns out that a whole bunch Shelby-like names — Shelbie, Shelba, Shelbia, Shelvie, Shelvy, Shelvey, Shelva, Shelvia, Shelda — debuted in the data (as girl names) in 1935/1936, right around the time that that Shelby — previously more of a boy name — became popular for girls:

Girls named ShelbyBoys named Shelby
19381,713 [rank: 142nd]214 [rank: 386th]
19371,997 [rank: 119th]203 [rank: 389th]
19361,071 [rank: 178th]151 [rank: 458th]
193567 [rank: 848th]121 [rank: 527th]
193417133 [rank: 500th]

Why the spike and the sex-change for Shelby circa 1936?

The character Shelby Barrett from the movie "The Woman in Red" (1935).
Shelby Barrett from “The Woman in Red“

The 1935 movie The Woman in Red starring Barbara Stanwyck. Stanwyck played professional equestrienne Shelby Barrett, who was being wooed by two men before she decided to marry Johnny Wyatt, a polo player from a once-wealthy (but still snobby) family.

Mrs. Wyatt eventually finds herself in a position where she either may remain quiet and permit a friend to be convicted of murder or, by admitting she was the mysterious woman in red who was on his yacht (however innocently) on the fatal night, clear him but risk the wreckage of her marriage.

The movie was based on the 1932 book North Shore by Wallace Irwin. His story was also serialized in the newspapers under the title Dangerous Waters in 1933-1934.

Which name would you be more likely to use for a baby girl today: Shelby or Shelva?

Sources:

[Latest update: Feb. 2019]

Car names as baby names

Mazda Miata
Mazda Miata

Love cars? Here are some car-related names that have been used as baby names, according to the U.S. baby name data.

  • Allante, from Cadillac Allante.
  • Aston, from Aston Martin. Inspired by Aston Hill in England.
  • Audi, German manufacturer. The name is a Latin translation of Horch, surname of founder August Horch.
  • Avanti, from Studebaker Avanti. The word avanti means “forward” in Italian.
  • Bentley, British manufacturer. Named after founder W. O. Bentley.
  • Camry, from Toyota Camry. The name is based on kanmuri, which means “crown” in Japanese. (Here’s a baby Camryn, born inside a Camry.)
  • Capri, from Lincoln Capri.
  • Caprice, from Chevrolet Caprice. Named after a New York City restaurant.
  • Catera, from Cadillac Catera.
  • Celica, from Toyota Celica. The name is based on caelica, which means “celestial” in Latin.
  • Chevelle, from Chevrolet Chevelle.
  • Chevy, nickname for Chevrolet.
  • Cooper, from MINI Cooper. Named after auto racer John Cooper.
  • Cressida, from Toyota Cressida.
  • DeLorean, from DMC DeLorean.
  • Diamante, from Mitsubishi Diamante.
  • Dino, from Fiat Dino or Ferrari Dino. Both named after V6 engine designer Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari.
  • Dodge, a division of Chrysler. (I know of two babies named after Dodge pickup trucks specifically.)
  • Elantra, from Hyundai Elantra.
  • Elise, from Lotus Elise. Named after Elisa Artioli, granddaughter of Italian entrepreneur Romano Artioli.
  • Elva, British manufacturer. The name is based on elle va, which means “she goes” in French.
  • Florian, from Isuzu Florian. Named after the fictional horse in Florian, the Emperor’s Stallion by Felix Salten.
  • Ford, American manufacturer. Named after founder Henry Ford. (I know of two babies named after Fords.)
  • Hudson, American manufacturer.
  • Jazz, from Honda Jazz.
  • Jeep, a division of Chrysler.
  • Jetta, from Volkswagen Jetta. The name is based on the phrase “jet stream.”
  • Jimmy, from GMC Jimmy.
  • Kia, South Korean manufacturer. (Here’s a baby Kia, born inside a Kia.)
  • Lexus, a division of Toyota. The name has no specific meaning, according to the company.
  • Lincoln, a division of Ford. Named after former U.S. president Abraham Lincoln.
  • Martin, from Aston Martin. Named after founder Lionel Martin.
  • Mercedes, from Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler AG. Named after Mercedes Jellinek, daughter of Austrian entrepreneur Emil Jellinek.
  • Miata, from Mazda Miata. Possibly means “reward” in Old High German.
  • Millenia, from Mazda Millenia.
  • Mondeo, from Ford Mondeo. The name is based on mundus, which means “world” in Latin.
  • Morgan, British manufacturer.
  • Porsche, German manufacturer. Named after founder Ferdinand Porsche.
  • Reatta, from Buick Reatta.
  • Renault, French manufacturer.
  • Royce, from Rolls-Royce. Named after founder Henry Royce.
  • Scion, a Toyota marque.
  • Shelby, from Shelby American. Named for founder Carroll Hall Shelby.
  • Torino, from Ford Torino.
  • Toyota, Japanese manufacturer. Named for founder Kiichiro Toyoda.
  • Wrangler, from Jeep Wrangler.
  • …and VW, short for Volkswagen. :)

Blog readers have also told me about babies named Riviera (after the Buick Riviera) and Axel (because of its similarity to the word axle).

Know any babies that were named for automobiles?

Update, 2016 – Here’s a baby whose middle name, Megan, was inspired by a Renault Megane.

Baby name needed: Girl name for Tanner’s little sister

A reader named Greg wrote to me a few days ago. He’s expecting his second child — a daughter — in a matter of months, and would like some name suggestions. He says:

We have a 1-year old son named Tanner, and we are very happy with his name. It’s easy to spell, uncommon but not weird, and sounds a little modern without being too trendy.

Here are some ideas I had:

Aubrey
Audrey
Bailey
Bella
Cassidy
Cleo
Darcy
Ellery
Fiona
Greta
Harper
Jillian		Jordan
Josie
Keely
Lucy
Matilda
Maya
Miranda
Molly
Morgan
Naomi
Paige
Parker		Phoebe
Piper
Quinn
Reese
Ruby
Scarlett
Shelby
Skylar
Stella
Talia
Tessa
Willow

Do you think any of the above sound particularly good with Tanner? Are there any other name suggestions you would offer Greg?