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Name Lineage

    The first name Sheldon

    A boy’s name from English meaning “shelf”, “hill”, “valley”.

    Pronounced /ˈʃɛldən/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Sheldon means “shelf”, “hill”, “valley” in English.

    From Old English scylf (“shelf”) + dūn (“hill”) or denu (“valley”).

    More names that mean mountain.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 4 boys were named Sheldon, making it the 4,275th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 52 births (#402).

    03060 1996200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    632
    babies named Sheldon, 1996–2025
    #4,275
    rank in 2025
    1996
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Sheldon with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Sheldon at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 46 boys born in the United States were named Sheldon, the 2,788th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1992, when 608 were.

    0350700 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    37,172
    babies named Sheldon since 1880
    #2,788
    rank in 2025
    1992
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Sheldon

    Famous people named Sheldon

    30 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Sheldon Glashow
      American theoretical physicist, born 1932
    • Sheldon Adelson
      American businessman (1933–2021)
    • Sheldon Whitehouse
      American lawyer and politician (born 1955)
    • Sheldon Riley
      Australian singer (1999-)
    • Sheldon Leonard
      American actor, producer, director, and writer (1907–1997)
    • Sheldon Lewis
      American actor (1868–1958)
    • Sheldon Brown
      American cyclist, writer and mechanic (1944–2008)
    • Sheldon Lettich
      American film director, producer and screenwriter, born 1951
    • Sheldon Harnick
      American lyricist and songwriter (1924–2023)
    • Sheldon Brookbank
      Canadian ice hockey player, born 1980
    • Sheldon Souray
      Canadian ice hockey player, born 1976
    • Sheldon Allman
      American-Canadian actor, singer and songwriter (1924-2002)

    More English boys’ names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Sheldon mean?
    Sheldon means “shelf”, “hill”, “valley” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Sheldon?
    From Old English scylf (“shelf”) + dūn (“hill”) or denu (“valley”).
    How popular is the name Sheldon?
    In 2025, 4 boys born in England and Wales were named Sheldon, ranking 4,275th. Its peak was 1996, with 52 births.
    What are nicknames for Sheldon?
    Common nicknames for Sheldon include Shelley, Shel.
    Is Sheldon a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 37,172 US babies named Sheldon since 1880 were boys.
    When was Sheldon most popular?
    1992 in the United States, when 608 babies were named Sheldon, its highest rank at 380th.
    How do you pronounce Sheldon?
    Sheldon is /ˈʃɛldən/, 2 syllables.
    Is Sheldon also a surname?
    Yes. Sheldon is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.