Shela

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Shela

Pronounced SHEE-luh /ˈʃiː.lə/Medium

Meaning: Shela is a spelling of Sheila, from Irish Sile, the Gaelic form of Cecilia; the Latin root Caecilia means 'blind', though the name is often given the softer traditional gloss 'heavenly'.Medium

In 30 seconds: Shela is a vintage spelling of Sheila, the Irish form of Cecilia, said 'SHEE-luh'.

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Origin MediumIrish, Latin

MeaningShela is a spelling of Sheila, from Irish Sile, the Gaelic form of Cecilia; the Latin root Caecilia means 'blind', though the name is often given the softer traditional gloss 'heavenly'.

U.S. rank (2007)#20110 ↘ Falling

2007 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1950

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,398

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Shela is a trimmed spelling of Sheila, which comes from the Irish Sile, the Gaelic form of Cecilia (Latin Caecilia, 'blind'). Families favouring the sound over the standard spelling produced Shela and several cousins.

This spelling stayed uncommon, reaching a modest peak around 1950 before fading. It is a grandmother-era name today and has not returned in this form.

Did you know? Sheila was so widely used in mid-century that in Australian slang 'sheila' even became a general word for a young woman — a sign of how common the sound once was.

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Shela — variant of Sheila; Irish Sile/Cecilia

Variations

SheilaSheelaShelia

Nicknames

Shel

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If you like Shela…

Sheila— the standard spelling and Irish-Cecilia root of Shela

Shelia— a near-twin metathesis spelling of the period

Sheilah— another vintage spelling of Sheila

Shiela— another Irish name

Shaila— a fellow Irish choice

Explore names like Shela

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shela mean?

Shela is a spelling of Sheila, the Irish form of Cecilia, from Latin for 'blind' and often glossed 'heavenly'.

How do you pronounce Shela?

It's said SHEE-luh /ˈʃiː.lə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Shela a boy or girl name?

Shela is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Shela?

Shela was an uncommon mid-century spelling and is rare today.