Total births
569
Girls' name · since 1935
Shelda
Since 1935, U.S. Social Security records show 569 babies named Shelda, peaking in 1941. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 569
- total births
- 1935–1988
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 26%
- born in that decade
569 girls have been named Shelda since 1935, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shelda has been recorded 569 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 1988.
- 569 total births
- 1935–1988 years on record
- 1960s peak decade
- 26% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
569 girls have been named Shelda since 1935, peaking in the 1960s, last recorded in 1988.
- 569
- total births
- 1935–1988
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 26%
- born in that decade
1960s
Peak decade
26% of everyone ever named Shelda was born in this single decade.
1941
Single peak year
27 babies were named Shelda in 1941 - its busiest year on record.
Shelda's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Shelda splits its recorded history at 1958: 47% of all births land in the more recent half, 53% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1979 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1941 peak of 27 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Shelda at a glance
Last recorded 1988Peak year
1941
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1935
Shelda popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1935–1988
- Peak year (1941)
- 27
- Annual births at peak, across 54 years of records
Shelda by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1960s was Shelda's strongest decade.
147 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 26% of all-time use.
Shelda births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1930s
1930s
69 births
- 1940s
1940s
127 births
- 1950s
1950s
135 births
- 1960s
1960s
147 births
- 1970s
1970s
73 births
- 1980s 18
1980s
18 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 147 births (26% of all-time use).
How Shelda 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 Shelda's total volume
Shelda vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Shelda by state
Where Shelda concentrates geographically, total births since 1935
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Carolina | | 5 | 0.9% |
| #2 | Pennsylvania | | 5 | 0.9% |
North Carolina share of Shelda's total US births 0.9%
Even split
5 of 569 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Shelda? ▼
Shelda has been given to 569 babies in the U.S. since 1935, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1988. 27 babies were born in 1941, its single highest year.
When was Shelda most popular? ▼
Shelda was most popular in the 1960s decade with 147 total births. The single peak year was 1941.
Where is Shelda most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Shelda are North Carolina (5 births), Pennsylvania (5 births).
How long has the name Shelda been used? ▼
Records for Shelda go back to 1935, giving 54 years of history through 1988.
What names are similar to Shelda? ▼
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 Shelda's data
- Shelda's decade-level peak was the 1960s (147 total births); usage has since declined to 18 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- North Carolina records the most Sheldas (5 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. North Carolina 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 Shelda
Nearby Names Like Shelda
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shelda
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 Shelda side by side: Shelda vs Sheila Shelda vs Sherry Shelda 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, 1935–1988 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Shelda: Baby Name Since 1935 - 569 Births, Peak 1941." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/shelda. 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 Shelda 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.