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Shelagh
How to Pronounce Shelagh
Pronounced SHEE-luh /ΛΚiΛlΙ/Medium
Meaning: Shelagh is the Irish spelling of Sheila, an anglicized form of the Irish Sile, from Cecilia. Cecilia comes from the Roman Caecilius, linked to the Latin caecus, blind.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Shelagh is the Irish spelling of Sheila, an anglicized form of the Irish Sile, itself from Cecilia. Cecilia derives from the Roman family name Caecilius, linked to the Latin caecus, blind. This Irish spelling appears in United States records from around nineteen-forty-two, peaked around nineteen-fifty, and stayed a rarity of a couple dozen girls a year.
A Shelagh of that peak would be in her seventies now, and the spelling, so unlike its sound, marks a strong Irish heritage choice. The English Sheila is now dated, and this Gaelic form has stayed rare, best introduced by ear.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- β
Shelagh Delaney (1938 to 2011)English playwright known for A Taste of Honey, bearing the Irish spelling Shelagh
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Shelagh mean?
As an Irish spelling of Sheila from Cecilia, it is traditionally read as blind, from the Latin caecus.
How do you pronounce Shelagh?
It is said SHEE-luh /ΛΚiΛlΙ/, two syllables, exactly like Sheila.
Is Shelagh a boy or girl name?
Shelagh is used as a girl's name.
Is Shelagh a common name?
No. In this Irish spelling it was always rare, given to just a couple dozen girls a year at its peak.