Shelia Girl

Popularity: — · Trend: ↘ Falling

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.

ShannonShelbyShaniaSelenaSierraSabrina

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.

ShailaShiraSelahShylaSharaShilohShanice

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Shelia was first seen in the United States in 1915.

Shelia has ranked as high as #323 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana.

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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2023 7 0 7
2022 7 0 7
2021 9 0 9
2020 11 0 11
2019 7 0 7
2017 16 0 16
2016 12 0 12
2015 11 0 11
2014 10 0 10
2013 8 0 8
2012 8 0 8
2011 8 0 8
2010 13 0 13
2009 19 0 19
2008 12 0 12
2007 12 0 12
2006 16 0 16
2005 13 0 13
2004 28 0 28
2003 14 0 14
2002 22 0 22
2001 28 0 28
2000 26 0 26
1999 27 0 27
1998 32 0 32
1997 34 0 34
1996 36 0 36
1995 40 0 40
1994 55 0 55
1993 53 0 53
1992 61 0 61
1991 84 0 84
1990 82 0 82
1989 83 0 83
1988 100 0 100
1987 106 0 106
1986 129 0 129
1985 124 0 124
1984 131 0 131
1983 121 0 121
1982 168 0 168
1981 173 0 173
1980 218 0 218
1979 228 0 228
1978 251 0 251
1977 284 0 284
1976 339 0 339
1975 450 0 450
1974 567 0 567
1973 691 0 691
1972 803 0 803
1971 1,044 7 1,037
1970 1,197 5 1,192
1969 1,304 0 1,304
1968 1,363 5 1,358
1967 1,476 0 1,476
1966 1,812 6 1,806
1965 1,903 11 1,892
1964 2,021 9 2,012
1963 2,072 8 2,064
1962 2,276 5 2,271
1961 2,013 8 2,005
1960 2,264 8 2,256
1959 2,293 10 2,283
1958 2,097 6 2,091
1957 2,099 6 2,093
1956 1,951 5 1,946
1955 1,843 6 1,837
1954 1,671 6 1,665
1953 1,484 0 1,484
1952 1,236 0 1,236
1951 1,160 0 1,160
1950 957 0 957
1949 821 0 821
1948 795 0 795
1947 744 0 744
1946 550 0 550
1945 305 0 305
1944 219 0 219
1943 215 0 215
1942 152 0 152
1941 130 0 130
1940 82 0 82
1939 72 0 72
1938 64 0 64
1937 59 0 59
1936 44 0 44
1935 43 0 43
1934 20 0 20
1933 27 0 27
1932 23 0 23
1931 22 0 22
1930 10 0 10
1929 14 0 14
1928 18 0 18
1927 16 0 16
1926 23 0 23
1925 22 0 22
1924 15 0 15
1923 11 0 11
1922 13 0 13
1921 8 0 8
1920 7 0 7
1919 7 0 7
1917 6 0 6
1916 6 0 6
1915 5 0 5

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. 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
TX 5
100%