Unisex name · since 1936
Shelvy
Since 1936, U.S. Social Security records show 333 babies named Shelvy, peaking in 1937. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #15,069 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 333
- born since 1936
- 1930s
- peak decade
333 girls have been named Shelvy since 1936, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shelvy has been recorded 333 times among girls since 1936, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1930s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1936 to 1965.
- #15,069 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 333 born since 1936
- 1930s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shelvy ranks #15,069 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 333 born since 1936, peaking in the 1930s.
- #15,069 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 333
- born since 1936
- 1930s
- peak decade
Shelvy's 333 recorded births place it above 79.15% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
7 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by Virginia.
Shelvy's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Shelvy splits its recorded history at 1947: 24% of all births land in the more recent half, 76% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1959 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1937 peak of 44 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Shelvy popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1936–1965
- Peak year (1937)
- 44
- Annual births at peak, across 30 years of records
Shelvy popularity over time - boys
64 total births recorded since 1925 (Shelvy as boys' name)
Shelvy by decade
1930s is the heaviest window (150 births, 45% of the file).
1930s was Shelvy's strongest decade.
150 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 45% of all-time use.
Shelvy births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1930s
1930s
150 births
- 1940s
1940s
119 births
- 1950s 42
1950s
42 births
- 1960s 22
1960s
22 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 150 births (45% of all-time use).
Shelvy by state
Where Shelvy concentrates geographically, total births since 1936
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Virginia | | 19 | 5.7% |
| #2 | South Carolina | | 15 | 4.5% |
| #3 | North Carolina | | 12 | 3.6% |
| #4 | West Virginia | | 10 | 3.0% |
| #5 | Georgia | | 7 | 2.1% |
| #6 | Pennsylvania | | 7 | 2.1% |
| #7 | Kentucky | | 5 | 1.5% |
19 of 333 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When was Shelvy most popular? ▼
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What to do with Shelvy's data
- Shelvy's decade-level peak was the 1930s (150 total births); usage has since declined to 22 in the 1960s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Virginia records the most Shelvys (19 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Virginia names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Shelvy
Nearby Names Like Shelvy
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shelvy
Compare Shelvy side by side: Shelvy vs Sheila Shelvy vs Sherry Shelvy 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 Shelvy: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1937)
Similar record span (~29 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, 1936–1965 (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 Shelvy 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.