Total births
1,398
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.
- 1,398
- total births
- 1935–2007
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 24%
- born in that 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.
- 1,398 total births
- 1935–2007 years on record
- 1960s peak decade
- 24% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
1,398 girls have been named Shela since 1935, peaking in the 1960s, last recorded in 2007.
- 1,398
- total births
- 1935–2007
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 24%
- born in that decade
1960s
Peak decade
24% of everyone ever named Shela was born in this single decade.
1950
Single peak year
44 babies were named Shela in 1950 - its busiest year on record.
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 at a glance
Last recorded 2007Peak year
1950
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1935
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
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
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 vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
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% |
Texas share of Shela's total US births 3.1%
Even split
44 of 1,398 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 8 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Shela? ▼
Since 1935, Social Security records show 1,398 babies named Shela. The most recent recorded year was 2007. Its busiest year on record was 1950, with 44 births.
When was Shela most popular? ▼
Shela was most popular in the 1960s decade with 337 total births. The single peak year was 1950.
Where is Shela most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Shela are Texas (44 births), California (38 births), Mississippi (10 births).
How long has the name Shela been used? ▼
Shela has been recorded in Social Security data since 1935, spanning 73 years of data through 2007.
What names are similar to Shela? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Sheila, Sherry, Shelby, Shelly, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
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
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare 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
Sheila Girl
#2013 238,774 births
Sherry Girl
#6948 229,937 births
Shelby Girl
#658 148,830 births
Shelly Girl
#4580 84,420 births
Sherri Girl
#8493 83,667 births
Compare Shela side by side: Shela vs Sheila Shela vs Sherry Shela vs Shelby
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 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).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Shela: Baby Name Since 1935 - 1,398 Births, Peak 1950." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/shela. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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 June 2026.