Shailene Girl

Popularity: #944 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SHAY-leen //ˈʃeɪliːn//

Origin: English; American

Meaning: from the mountain; little mountain

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Shailene is believed to be of American origin, likely derived from a combination of the name "Shay" and the suffix "-lene." The name "Shay" itself has roots in Hebrew, where it means "gift" or "to be thankful," while the suffix "-lene" is often associated with names of French origin, such as in "Josephine" or "Evelyn," which typically convey a sense of femininity. This blending of elements reflects a modern trend in name formation that emphasizes both personal significance and aesthetic appeal.

Historically, the name Shailene gained prominence in the late 20th century, particularly in the United States. It is often associated with Shailene Woodley, an American actress who rose to fame in the early 2010s through her roles in popular films and television series.

While the name itself does not have deep historical roots like some traditional names, its emergence in contemporary culture has contributed to its recognition and usage. Culturally, Shailene may evoke themes of nature and beauty, as the prefix "Shai" can be reminiscent of the word "shale," a type of rock, which connects to the earth and natural landscapes.

This association may resonate with parents seeking names that reflect a connection to nature or a modern, unique identity for their children. The name's melodic quality and modern construction contribute to its appeal, making it a distinctive choice in the landscape of contemporary names.

Famous people named Shailene

In this section, you will find notable people named Shailene. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Shailene who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Shailene who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Shailene Woodley is an actress best known for The Fault in Our Stars, Divergent, and Big Little Lies.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Shailene, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Shailene was first seen in the United States in 1991.

Shailene has ranked as high as #1366 nationally, which occurred in 2014, and has been most popular in California.

In the past 5 years the name Shailene has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Shailene is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Shailene was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Shailene (2018)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 5
100%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Shailene.

YearBirths
20246
20236
20229
202114
202014
20197
201821
201714
201622
201525
201429
20136
201219
20117
201011
200914
20015
19995
19965
19957
19935
19915