Given name & surname
Shelley
“from the bank's meadow”·“from the meadow's ledge”
Shelley is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “from the bank's meadow” (English) and “from the meadow's ledge” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “from the bank's meadow” (English) and “from the meadow's ledge” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
It entered given-name use through an existing surname.
The story
Its naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Shelley through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 74,339
- 1,753 boys · 72,586 girls
- Most popular year
- 1964
- 2,845 babies
- 2025
- 13
- #8,280 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −25%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 0% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 13 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 8,280 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 25.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 2,821 in 1964. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 64,253 as a first name in 2020; 13,694 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Shelley’s family of names
In English usage, Shelley is a diminutive of Rochelle. In English usage, Shelley has a related form in Michelle. In English usage, Shelley has a related form in Shirley.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 23
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Shelley
- Shelley DuvallAmerican actress (1949–2024)
- Shelley WintersAmerican actress (1920–2006)
- Shelley LongAmerican actress and comedian (born 1949)
- Shelley HennigAmerican actress and model (born 1987)
- Shelley Moore CapitoUnited States Senator from West Virginiaborn 1953
- Shelley McNamaraIrish architectborn 1952
- Shelley Fabaresactress, singer1944–2026
- Shelley ConnBritish actressborn 1976
- Shelley MorrisonAmerican actress (1936–2019)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Shelley, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Meryl
“resembling a blackbird” · “of the shining sea”
>99% girls
Marni
“woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Tina
Tina is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the river; also shortened torm of names ending in -tina.”
>99% girls
Toni
“a flourishing man; from an ancient Roman family”
8% boys · 92% girls
Halley
“from the hall near the meadow”
>99% girls
Spring
“refers to the season; born in spring”
>99% girls
Whitley
“from the white meadow”
15% boys · 85% girls
Gardenia
“resembling the sweetsmelling flower”
>99% girls