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Sheila

♀ Girl

Pronounced SHEE-luh /ˈʃiː.lə/Medium

Meaning: Anglicization of Irish Síle, the Gaelic equivalent of Cecilia (from the Roman family name Caecilius, traditionally 'blind').Medium

In 30 seconds: Sheila is an Irish girl's name, an anglicization of Síle, the Gaelic form of Cecilia.
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Origin MediumIrish, English
MeaningAnglicization of Irish Síle, the Gaelic equivalent of Cecilia (from the Roman family name Caecilius, traditionally 'blind').
U.S. rank (2024)#2024 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births97 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1962
Total births (all-time)≈ 238,706

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196219072024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Sheila is the English rendering of Irish Síle, which is itself the Gaelic equivalent of Cecilia, from the Roman family name Caecilius traditionally read as 'blind'. The spelling makes the Irish pronunciation accessible to English speakers.

Bearers include British childbirth author Sheila Kitzinger and American actress and producer Sheila Matthews Allen. Variations such as Síle, Sheelagh, and Shayla show the range between the original Gaelic and later anglicized forms.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Sheila is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Sheila — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

SíleShaylaSheliaShylaSheelagh

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Sheila Kitzinger (1929–2015)
    British social anthropologist, author and natural childbirth activist who wrote more than 30 influential books on birth.
  • ★Sheila Matthews Allen (1929–2013)
    American actress and producer; appeared in disaster films produced by her husband Irwin Allen, including 'The Towering Inferno'.

If you like Sheila…

Cecilia— The name Sheila ultimately corresponds to through Irish Síle.
Shayla— Listed variation built on Sheila's sound.
Shyla— Variation of Sheila sharing its Sh- opening.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Sheila mean?

Sheila is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with Irish tradition.

How do you pronounce Sheila?

It's commonly said SHEE-luh /ˈʃiː.lə/.

Is Sheila a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Sheila is used as a girl name.

How popular is Sheila?

In 2024, Sheila ranked #2024 in the U.S. for girls, with 97 births recorded.