The first name Shelley

Shelley last appeared in the official list in 2024, given to 3 girls. It peaked in 1996, with 84 births (#392).

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

In 2025, 13 girls born in the United States were named Shelley, the 8,280th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1964, when 2,821 were.

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.

• Shelley Duvall
  American actress (1949–2024)
• Shelley Winters
  American actress (1920–2006)
• Shelley Long
  American actress and comedian (born 1949)
• Shelley Hennig
  American actress and model (born 1987)
• Shelley Fabares
  Actress, singer, 1944–2026
• Shelley Conn
  British actress, born 1976
• Shelley Morrison
  American actress (1936–2019)
• Shelley Hack
  American actress, born 1947
• Shelley Lubben
  Author, singer, motivational speaker, and former pornographic actress (1968-2019)
• Shelley Berman
  American comedian, actor, writer, and teacher (1925–2017)
• Shelley Mann
  American swimmer (1937–2005)
• Shelley Berkley
  American politician and attorney, born 1951

• Evelyn
• Harper
• Holly
• Ashley
• Audrey
• Allison
• Hailey
• Hadley
• Kinsley
• Chelsea
• Everleigh
• Kelsey
• Hayley
• Shelby
• Shirley
• Haley

All 216 names of English origin

What does the name Shelley mean?

Shelley means “clearing on a bank” in English.

What is the origin of the name Shelley?

From Old English, meaning "clearing on a bank".

How popular is the name Shelley?

In 2024, 3 girls born in England and Wales were named Shelley, ranking 5,891st. Its peak was 1996, with 84 births.

Is Shelley a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a girl's name: 98% of the 74,339 US babies named Shelley since 1880 were girls.

When was Shelley most popular?

1964 in the United States, when 2,821 babies were named Shelley, its highest rank at 143rd.

How do you pronounce Shelley?

Shelley is /ˈʃɛli/, 2 syllables.

What name is Shelley a form of?

Shelley is a form of Shirley and Michelle.

What are other spellings of Shelley?

Shelly.

Is Shelley also a surname?

Yes. Shelley is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.