Sheilah Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SHAY-lah /ˈʃeɪlə/
Origin: Irish; Hebrew
Meaning: Irish: 'blind'; Hebrew: 'God is my oath'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Sheilah is derived from the Hebrew name Shéla, which means "to ask" or "to inquire." This name was adapted into various forms through linguistic transitions, including the Greek form Selah, which appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Psalms. The name's journey into English can be traced through the Latin transliteration of the Greek, eventually leading to its modern English variant, Sheilah, which emerged in the 19th century as a feminine form of the name.
Historically, the name has been associated with biblical references, particularly through its connection to the figure of Shelah, a son of Judah mentioned in the Book of Genesis. This biblical lineage has contributed to the name's enduring presence in various cultures, especially within Jewish and Christian traditions.
The name's significance was further solidified by its inclusion in early translations of the Bible, such as the King James Version published in 1611, which helped to popularize biblical names in English-speaking contexts. Culturally, Sheilah carries connotations of inquiry and reflection, resonating with themes of wisdom and understanding.
This symbolic association has allowed the name to maintain relevance across generations. Additionally, the name has several diminutive forms, including Sheila, which has also been widely used in English-speaking countries.
Overall, Sheilah reflects a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution and cultural significance, rooted deeply in historical texts and traditions.
Famous people named Sheilah
In this section, you will find notable people named Sheilah. 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 Sheilah who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Sheilah 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.
Sheilah Graham is a journalist and author best known for her work as a Hollywood gossip columnist and her memoirs about her relationship with F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Sheilah, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Sheilah. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Sheilah was first seen in the United States in 1924.
Sheilah has ranked as high as #1158 nationally, which occurred in 1955, and has been most popular in New York, California, Illinois, Texas, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Sheilah has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Sheilah 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 Sheilah was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
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 Sheilah.
| Year | Total Births | Girl |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 5 | 5 |
| 2007 | 7 | 7 |
| 2001 | 7 | 7 |
| 2000 | 6 | 6 |
| 1998 | 6 | 6 |
| 1996 | 8 | 8 |
| 1994 | 7 | 7 |
| 1993 | 9 | 9 |
| 1992 | 9 | 9 |
| 1991 | 9 | 9 |
| 1990 | 7 | 7 |
| 1989 | 5 | 5 |
| 1988 | 11 | 11 |
| 1987 | 11 | 11 |
| 1986 | 14 | 14 |
| 1985 | 14 | 14 |
| 1984 | 8 | 8 |
| 1983 | 10 | 10 |
| 1982 | 11 | 11 |
| 1981 | 11 | 11 |
| 1980 | 12 | 12 |
| 1979 | 18 | 18 |
| 1978 | 28 | 28 |
| 1977 | 22 | 22 |
| 1976 | 31 | 31 |
| 1975 | 30 | 30 |
| 1974 | 23 | 23 |
| 1973 | 24 | 24 |
| 1972 | 26 | 26 |
| 1971 | 31 | 31 |
| 1970 | 46 | 46 |
| 1969 | 39 | 39 |
| 1968 | 20 | 20 |
| 1967 | 42 | 42 |
| 1966 | 37 | 37 |
| 1965 | 37 | 37 |
| 1964 | 53 | 53 |
| 1963 | 50 | 50 |
| 1962 | 49 | 49 |
| 1961 | 32 | 32 |
| 1960 | 57 | 57 |
| 1959 | 85 | 85 |
| 1958 | 81 | 81 |
| 1957 | 86 | 86 |
| 1956 | 78 | 78 |
| 1955 | 199 | 199 |
| 1954 | 88 | 88 |
| 1953 | 82 | 82 |
| 1952 | 68 | 68 |
| 1951 | 59 | 59 |
| 1950 | 58 | 58 |
| 1949 | 53 | 53 |
| 1948 | 60 | 60 |
| 1947 | 49 | 49 |
| 1946 | 45 | 45 |
| 1945 | 41 | 41 |
| 1944 | 33 | 33 |
| 1943 | 39 | 39 |
| 1942 | 29 | 29 |
| 1941 | 37 | 37 |
| 1940 | 28 | 28 |
| 1939 | 12 | 12 |
| 1938 | 16 | 16 |
| 1937 | 28 | 28 |
| 1936 | 16 | 16 |
| 1935 | 17 | 17 |
| 1934 | 11 | 11 |
| 1924 | 5 | 5 |
Top States for Sheilah (1975)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 6 |