Shelah Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SHEH-lah /ˈʃɛlə/
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: dew; a female name
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Shelah has its roots in Hebrew, derived from the word שֵׁלָה (Shelah), which means "gift" or "to send away." This name appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Genesis, where Shelah is mentioned as one of the sons of Judah, a prominent figure in the lineage of the Israelites. The name was subsequently transliterated into Greek as Σηλά (Sēlá) and later into Latin, maintaining its original form as Shelah when it was adopted into English through translations of biblical texts.
Historically, Shelah is noted in the genealogical accounts of the Old Testament, particularly in the context of the tribes of Israel. The mention of Shelah in Genesis, which dates back to the 6th century BCE, highlights the significance of lineage and heritage in ancient Hebrew culture.
The name also appears in the genealogies of the tribe of Judah, emphasizing its importance in the context of Jewish history and identity. The name has been preserved through various translations of the Bible, including the Septuagint and the Vulgate, which contributed to its recognition in Christian traditions.
Culturally, Shelah carries connotations of familial ties and divine providence, resonating with themes of legacy and continuity within Jewish and Christian narratives. The name's association with biblical figures lends it a sense of historical weight and significance, making it a symbol of heritage.
While diminutive forms or variations may exist, the name Shelah itself has retained its original form and meaning throughout centuries, reflecting its enduring presence in religious texts and cultural memory.
Famous people named Shelah
In this section, you will find notable people named Shelah. 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 Shelah who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Shelah 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.
Shelah Freedman is a writer best known for her work in children's literature and educational materials.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Shelah, 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 Shelah. 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 Shelah was first seen in the United States in 1935.
Shelah has ranked as high as #1067 nationally, which occurred in 1974, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Shelah has been trending about the same compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Shelah 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 Shelah was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Shelah
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.
No state data available for this year.
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 Shelah.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 5 |
| 1999 | 5 |
| 1994 | 5 |
| 1993 | 11 |
| 1992 | 7 |
| 1991 | 12 |
| 1990 | 8 |
| 1989 | 6 |
| 1988 | 9 |
| 1987 | 6 |
| 1986 | 7 |
| 1985 | 5 |
| 1984 | 10 |
| 1983 | 15 |
| 1982 | 7 |
| 1981 | 11 |
| 1980 | 9 |
| 1979 | 6 |
| 1978 | 9 |
| 1977 | 13 |
| 1976 | 8 |
| 1975 | 12 |
| 1974 | 15 |
| 1973 | 14 |
| 1972 | 8 |
| 1971 | 7 |
| 1970 | 10 |
| 1969 | 8 |
| 1968 | 11 |
| 1967 | 10 |
| 1966 | 13 |
| 1965 | 12 |
| 1964 | 9 |
| 1963 | 12 |
| 1962 | 8 |
| 1961 | 12 |
| 1960 | 12 |
| 1959 | 7 |
| 1958 | 8 |
| 1957 | 14 |
| 1955 | 13 |
| 1954 | 12 |
| 1953 | 10 |
| 1952 | 9 |
| 1951 | 9 |
| 1950 | 8 |
| 1949 | 9 |
| 1948 | 13 |
| 1947 | 6 |
| 1946 | 8 |
| 1945 | 6 |
| 1944 | 8 |
| 1943 | 11 |
| 1940 | 7 |
| 1935 | 5 |