Total births
321
Girls' name · since 1951
Shelene
Since 1951, U.S. Social Security records show 321 babies named Shelene, peaking in 1970. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 321
- total births
- 1951–1995
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 42%
- born in that decade
Shelene sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 321 recorded since 1951.
Social Security Administration records show Shelene recorded 321 times among girls since 1951, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1970s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1951 to 1995.
- 321 total births
- 1951–1995 years on record
- 1970s peak decade
- 42% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
321 girls have been named Shelene since 1951, peaking in the 1970s, last recorded in 1995.
- 321
- total births
- 1951–1995
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 42%
- born in that decade
1970s
Peak decade
42% of everyone ever named Shelene was born in this single decade.
1970
Single peak year
26 babies were named Shelene in 1970 - its busiest year on record.
Shelene's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Shelene splits its recorded history at 1970: 53% of all births land in the more recent half, 47% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1955 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1970 peak of 26 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Shelene at a glance
Last recorded 1995Peak year
1970
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1951
Shelene popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1951–1995
- Peak year (1970)
- 26
- Annual births at peak, across 45 years of records
Shelene by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1970s was Shelene's strongest decade.
134 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 42% of all-time use.
Shelene births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 40
1950s
40 births
- 1960s
1960s
110 births
- 1970s
1970s
134 births
- 1980s 30
1980s
30 births
- 1990s 7
1990s
7 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 134 births (42% of all-time use).
Shelene by state
Where Shelene concentrates geographically, total births since 1951
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 5 | 1.6% |
| #2 | Washington | | 5 | 1.6% |
California share of Shelene's total US births 1.6%
Even split
5 of 321 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Shelene? ▼
321 babies have been named Shelene since 1951. It was last recorded in 1995. The peak year was 1970 with 26 births.
When was Shelene most popular? ▼
Shelene was most popular in the 1970s decade with 134 total births. The single peak year was 1970.
Where is Shelene most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Shelene are California (5 births), Washington (5 births).
How long has the name Shelene been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Shelene since 1951 -- 45 years through the most recent 1995 data.
What names are similar to Shelene? ▼
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 Shelene's data
- Shelene's decade-level peak was the 1970s (134 total births); usage has since declined to 7 in the 1990s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Shelenes (5 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California 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 Shelene
Nearby Names Like Shelene
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shelene
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 Shelene side by side: Shelene vs Sheila Shelene vs Sherry Shelene 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, 1951–1995 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Shelene: Baby Name Since 1951 - 321 Births, Peak 1970." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/shelene. 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 Shelene 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.