Total births
198
Unisex name · since 1951
Shell
Since 1951, U.S. Social Security records show 198 babies named Shell, peaking in 1965. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 198
- total births
- 1951–1986
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 56%
- born in that decade
Shell sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 198 recorded since 1951.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shell has been recorded 198 times among girls since 1951, 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 1951 to 1986.
- 198 total births
- 1951–1986 years on record
- 1960s peak decade
- 56% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
198 girls have been named Shell since 1951, peaking in the 1960s, last recorded in 1986.
- 198
- total births
- 1951–1986
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 56%
- born in that decade
1960s
Peak decade
56% of everyone ever named Shell was born in this single decade.
1965
Single peak year
16 babies were named Shell in 1965 - its busiest year on record.
Shell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Shell's full recorded timeline at 1966, 46% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 54% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1951, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1965 peak of 16 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Shell at a glance
Last recorded 1986Peak year
1965
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1951
Shell popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1951–1986
- Peak year (1965)
- 16
- Annual births at peak, across 36 years of records
Shell popularity over time - boys
113 total births recorded since 1952 (Shell as boys' name)
Shell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1960s was Shell's strongest decade.
111 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 56% of all-time use.
Shell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 34
1950s
34 births
- 1960s
1960s
111 births
- 1970s 38
1970s
38 births
- 1980s 15
1980s
15 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 111 births (56% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Shell? ▼
Since 1951, Social Security records show 198 babies named Shell. The most recent recorded year was 1986. Its busiest year on record was 1965, with 16 births.
When was Shell most popular? ▼
Shell was most popular in the 1960s decade with 111 total births. The single peak year was 1965.
Is Shell a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Shell is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 198 births, and as a boy's name it has 113 births.
How long has the name Shell been used? ▼
Shell has been recorded in Social Security data since 1951, spanning 36 years of data through 1986.
What names are similar to Shell? ▼
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 Shell's data
- Shell's decade-level peak was the 1960s (111 total births); usage has since declined to 15 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- 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 Shell
Nearby Names Like Shell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shell
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 Shell side by side: Shell vs Sheila Shell vs Sherry Shell vs Shelby
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1951–1986 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Shell: Baby Name Since 1951 - 198 Births, Peak 1965." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/shell. 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 Shell 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 July 2026.