Total births
333
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.
- 333
- total births
- 1936–1965
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 45%
- born in that 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.
- 333 total births
- 1936–1965 years on record
- 1930s peak decade
- 45% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
333 girls have been named Shelvy since 1936, peaking in the 1930s, last recorded in 1965.
- 333
- total births
- 1936–1965
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 45%
- born in that decade
1930s
Peak decade
45% of everyone ever named Shelvy was born in this single decade.
1937
Single peak year
44 babies were named Shelvy in 1937 - its busiest year on record.
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 at a glance
Last recorded 1965Peak year
1937
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1936
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
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
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% |
Virginia share of Shelvy's total US births 5.7%
Even split
19 of 333 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Shelvy? ▼
Shelvy has been given to 333 babies in the U.S. since 1936, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1965. 44 babies were born in 1937, its single highest year.
When was Shelvy most popular? ▼
Shelvy was most popular in the 1930s decade with 150 total births. The single peak year was 1937.
Where is Shelvy most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Shelvy are Virginia (19 births), South Carolina (15 births), North Carolina (12 births).
Is Shelvy a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Shelvy is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 333 births, and as a boy's name it has 64 births.
How long has the name Shelvy been used? ▼
Records for Shelvy go back to 1936, giving 30 years of history through 1965.
What names are similar to Shelvy? ▼
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 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
- 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 Shelvy
Nearby Names Like Shelvy
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shelvy
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 Shelvy side by side: Shelvy vs Sheila Shelvy vs Sherry Shelvy 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, 1936–1965 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Shelvy: Baby Name Since 1936 - 333 Births, Peak 1937." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/shelvy. 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 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 June 2026.