Shelby
Shelby: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈʃɛlbi/
Meaning and origin of Shelby
Root meaning: “dweller of the willow place”
- A unisex given name transferred from the surname.
- A female given name transferred from the surname.
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
Etymology
From a medieval name, of obscure origin, yet likely an alteration of Middle English Selby, Salibi (“dweller of the willow place”), from salwe (“willow, sallow”) + -by (“settlement, farm”).
How popular is Shelby?
Since 1880, 148,830 girls and 16,449 boys in the U.S. have been named Shelby (90% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #33 in 1991. Its highest rank for boys was #386 in 1938. In 2025 it ranked #649 for girls, with 485 babies given the name.
Names similar to Shelby
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname girl names
Sibling name ideas for Shelby
Sister and brother names that share Shelby's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Shelby FAQ
What does the name Shelby mean?
Shelby traces back to a root meaning "dweller of the willow place". A unisex given name transferred from the surname. A female given name transferred from the surname. A male given name transferred from the surname. From a medieval name, of obscure origin, yet likely an alteration of Middle English Selby, Salibi (“dweller of the willow place”), from salwe (“willow, sallow”) + -by (“settlement, farm”).
What is the origin of the name Shelby?
Shelby is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Shelby?
Since 1880, 148,830 girls and 16,449 boys in the U.S. have been named Shelby (90% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #33 in 1991. Its highest rank for boys was #386 in 1938. In 2025 it ranked #649 for girls, with 485 babies given the name.
Is Shelby a boy or girl name?
Shelby is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 148,830 girls and 16,449 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.