Shelby

A unisex name of Old English origin, meaning willow farm or ledge farm.

Babies a year
864
the US, 2017
Rarity
Uncommon
among names in use
US popularity
#649
up from #656
UK popularity
#872
40 babies

How Shelby has moved

US popularity rank, 2015–2025. Lower is more popular.
#244#480#716201520202025#649

View as table
YearUS rank
2015#299
2016#339
2017#373
2018#425
2019#495
2020#501
2021#550
2022#594
2023#661
2024#656
2025#649

Shelby by the numbers

In 2025, 40 babies in England and Wales were named Shelby. In the US, 864 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.

For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in the US than in England and Wales.

Its American peak was 10,218 babies in 1991, so it is a 1990s name that has since fallen a long way.

At its height, in 1995, about 1 in 250 American babies born that year was called Shelby.

0%0.2%0.4%19401960198020001995
Shelby as a share of American babies born, 1880 to 2008, at five year intervals. Source: US Social Security Administration.

Spelled almost the same

Other names in the records within a letter or two of Shelby. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.

  • Selbyfrom the willow farm; a surname used as given name7 in the US (2017)
  • Sheliafairy woman; a form of Síle16 in the US (2017)
  • Sherleybright clearing; a variant of Shirley11 in the US (2017)
  • Shevy19 in the US (2017)

Sounds like Shelby

Names that are said the same way as Shelby, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.

  • Shelbiewillow farm; a form of Shelby29 in the US (2017)
  • Shelbi14 in the US (2017)

Other names that mean a tree

Like Shelby, each of these has a tree in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.

  • Oliviaolive tree; symbol of peace18,642 in the US (2017)
  • Oliverolive tree; peace3,154 in England and Wales (2025)
  • Hazelthe hazel tree; hazel-eyed5,019 in the US (2017)
  • Rowanlittle red one; the rowan tree1,398 in England and Wales (2025)
  • Willowthe willow tree; grace, flexibility1,384 in England and Wales (2025)
  • Ashtonash tree settlement3,129 in the US (2017)

Other names that mean a craft or trade

Like Shelby, each of these has a craft or trade in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.

  • Masonstone worker13,560 in the US (2017)
  • Ameliawork, industriousness2,153 in England and Wales (2025)
  • Graysonson of the steward8,767 in the US (2017)
  • Penelopeweaver; wife of Odysseus1,174 in England and Wales (2025)
  • Skylarscholar, learned one; a modern respelling of Schuyler4,984 in the US (2017)
  • Chaseto hunt; one who hunts4,207 in the US (2017)

Names about as common as Shelby

HarlowKenzieChandlerCaseyMiracleDrewRylieLeighton

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