Girls' name · since 1935
Shela
Shela has 1,398 recorded births since 1935 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1950 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #5,973 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 1,398
- born since 1935
- 1960s
- peak decade
Shela is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 1,398 have been recorded since 1935.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shela has been recorded 1,398 times among girls since 1935, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1960s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1935 to 2007.
- #5,973 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 1,398 born since 1935
- 1960s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shela ranks #5,973 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,398 born since 1935, peaking in the 1960s.
- #5,973 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 1,398
- born since 1935
- 1960s
- peak decade
Shela's 1,398 recorded births place it above 91.74% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
8 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by Texas.
Shela's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Shela's SSA record in two at 1969 and the more recent half accounts for 40% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 60%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1935, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1950 peak of 44, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Shela popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1935–2007
- Peak year (1950)
- 44
- Annual births at peak, across 73 years of records
Shela by decade
1960s is the heaviest window (337 births, 24% of the file).
1960s was Shela's strongest decade.
337 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 24% of all-time use.
Shela births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1930s 28
1930s
28 births
- 1940s
1940s
184 births
- 1950s
1950s
328 births
- 1960s
1960s
337 births
- 1970s
1970s
183 births
- 1980s
1980s
166 births
- 1990s
1990s
136 births
- 2000s 36
2000s
36 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 337 births (24% of all-time use).
How Shela compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Shela's total volume
Shela by state
Where Shela concentrates geographically, total births since 1935
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 44 | 3.1% |
| #2 | California | | 38 | 2.7% |
| #3 | Mississippi | | 10 | 0.7% |
| #4 | Arkansas | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #5 | Georgia | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #6 | North Carolina | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #7 | New York | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #8 | Tennessee | | 5 | 0.4% |
44 of 1,398 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 8 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Shela? ▼
Where does Shela sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Shela most popular? ▼
Where is Shela most popular? ▼
How long has the name Shela been used? ▼
What names are similar to Shela? ▼
What to do with Shela's data
- Shela's decade-level peak was the 1960s (337 total births); usage has since declined to 36 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Shelas (44 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Shela
Nearby Names Like Shela
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shela
Compare Shela side by side: Shela vs Sheila Shela vs Sherry Shela vs Shelby
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Shela: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1950)
Similar record span (~72 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1935–2007 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Shela draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.