Shelly
Shelly: name meaning, origin and popularity
Meaning and origin of Shelly
- A male given name transferred from the surname, of mostly pre-1930 usage.
- A female given name transferred from the surname, of 1930s and later usage, variant of Shelley.
How popular is Shelly?
Since 1880, 84,420 girls and 2,190 boys in the U.S. have been named Shelly (97% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #89 in 1966. Its highest rank for boys was #763 in 1893. In 2025, 21 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Shelly
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname girl names
Sibling name ideas for Shelly
Sister and brother names that share Shelly's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Shelly FAQ
What does the name Shelly mean?
A male given name transferred from the surname, of mostly pre-1930 usage. A female given name transferred from the surname, of 1930s and later usage, variant of Shelley.
What is the origin of the name Shelly?
Shelly is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Shelly?
Since 1880, 84,420 girls and 2,190 boys in the U.S. have been named Shelly (97% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #89 in 1966. Its highest rank for boys was #763 in 1893. In 2025, 21 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Shelly a boy or girl name?
Shelly is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 84,420 girls and 2,190 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.