Shelia Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SHEE-lah /ˈʃiːlə/
Origin: English; Irish
Meaning: English: blind; Irish: from the fairy palace
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Shelia is derived from the Irish name Síle, which is a form of the Latin name Cecilia. The Latin Cecilia itself originates from the Roman family name Caecilius, which is derived from the Latin word "caecus," meaning "blind." The transition from Síle to Shelia occurred through various linguistic adaptations as the name moved through different cultures and languages, ultimately making its way into English usage.
The name has been influenced by the phonetic and orthographic changes typical of the evolution of names across regions and languages. Historically, the name Cecilia has been associated with Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians, who was martyred in the 3rd century.
Her feast day is celebrated on November 22, and she has been a significant figure in Christian hagiography, inspiring numerous works of art and music throughout the centuries. The name Síle, and by extension Shelia, has been used in Irish culture, often linked to the qualities of purity and musicality associated with Saint Cecilia.
Culturally, names derived from Cecilia have resonated with themes of music and the arts, reflecting the enduring legacy of Saint Cecilia. The name has been embraced in various forms across different cultures, with Síle being a common variant in Ireland.
The evolution of Shelia also reflects broader trends in naming practices, where names are adapted and transformed through linguistic shifts, yet maintain a connection to their historical roots. This adaptability has allowed the name to persist in various forms, embodying both cultural significance and personal identity.
Famous people named Shelia
In this section, you will find notable people named Shelia. 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 Shelia who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Shelia 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.
Shelia E. is a musician and drummer best known for her work with Prince, as well as her solo albums and collaborations with various artists.
Shelia Copps is a television personality best known for her work on Canadian television and her role in the entertainment industry.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Shelia, 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 Shelia. 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 Shelia was first seen in the United States in 1915.
Shelia has ranked as high as #315 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Kentucky.
In the past 5 years the name Shelia has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Shelia 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 Shelia was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Shelia (1999)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 5 |
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 Shelia.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2009 | 19 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2006 | 16 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2004 | 28 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2002 | 22 |
| 2001 | 28 |
| 2000 | 26 |
| 1999 | 27 |
| 1998 | 32 |
| 1997 | 34 |
| 1996 | 36 |
| 1995 | 40 |
| 1994 | 55 |
| 1993 | 53 |
| 1992 | 61 |
| 1991 | 84 |
| 1990 | 82 |
| 1989 | 83 |
| 1988 | 100 |
| 1987 | 106 |
| 1986 | 129 |
| 1985 | 124 |
| 1984 | 131 |
| 1983 | 121 |
| 1982 | 168 |
| 1981 | 173 |
| 1980 | 218 |
| 1979 | 228 |
| 1978 | 251 |
| 1977 | 284 |
| 1976 | 339 |
| 1975 | 450 |
| 1974 | 567 |
| 1973 | 691 |
| 1972 | 803 |
| 1971 | 1,037 |
| 1970 | 1,192 |
| 1969 | 1,304 |
| 1968 | 1,358 |
| 1967 | 1,476 |
| 1966 | 1,806 |
| 1965 | 1,892 |
| 1964 | 2,012 |
| 1963 | 2,063 |
| 1962 | 2,271 |
| 1961 | 2,005 |
| 1960 | 2,256 |
| 1959 | 2,283 |
| 1958 | 2,091 |
| 1957 | 2,093 |
| 1956 | 1,946 |
| 1955 | 1,837 |
| 1954 | 1,666 |
| 1953 | 1,484 |
| 1952 | 1,236 |
| 1951 | 1,160 |
| 1950 | 957 |
| 1949 | 821 |
| 1948 | 795 |
| 1947 | 744 |
| 1946 | 550 |
| 1945 | 305 |
| 1944 | 219 |
| 1943 | 215 |
| 1942 | 152 |
| 1941 | 130 |
| 1940 | 82 |
| 1939 | 72 |
| 1938 | 64 |
| 1937 | 59 |
| 1936 | 44 |
| 1935 | 43 |
| 1934 | 20 |
| 1933 | 27 |
| 1932 | 23 |
| 1931 | 22 |
| 1930 | 10 |
| 1929 | 14 |
| 1928 | 18 |
| 1927 | 16 |
| 1926 | 23 |
| 1925 | 22 |
| 1924 | 15 |
| 1923 | 11 |
| 1922 | 13 |
| 1921 | 8 |
| 1920 | 7 |
| 1919 | 7 |
| 1917 | 6 |
| 1916 | 6 |
| 1915 | 5 |