Sheldon
Sheldon: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈʃɛldən/
Meaning and origin of Sheldon
Root meaning: “shelf”
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
Etymology
From Old English scylf (“shelf”) + dūn (“hill”) or denu (“valley”).
How popular is Sheldon?
Since 1880, 496 girls and 36,676 boys in the U.S. have been named Sheldon (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3342 in 1936. Its highest rank for boys was #247 in 1936. In 2025, 46 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Sheldon
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More English boy names
Sibling name ideas for Sheldon
Sister and brother names that share Sheldon's English roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Sheldon FAQ
What does the name Sheldon mean?
Sheldon traces back to a root meaning "shelf". A male given name transferred from the surname. From Old English scylf (“shelf”) + dūn (“hill”) or denu (“valley”).
What is the origin of the name Sheldon?
Sheldon is listed as a name of English origin.
How popular is the name Sheldon?
Since 1880, 496 girls and 36,676 boys in the U.S. have been named Sheldon (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3342 in 1936. Its highest rank for boys was #247 in 1936. In 2025, 46 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Sheldon a boy or girl name?
Sheldon is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 496 girls and 36,676 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.