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Home › Baby Names Directory › Shelley

Shelley

♀ Girl

Pronounced SHEL-ee /ˈʃɛl.i/High

Meaning: From the Old English scylf, 'a ledge/shelf', + leah, 'a wood/clearing', hence 'a clearing on a ledge'; an English surname used for both sexesLow

In 30 seconds: A clearing on a ledge: Shelley is an English surname. Crisp, vintage, and warm. Used for both sexes.
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Origin LowEnglish
MeaningFrom the Old English scylf, 'a ledge/shelf', + leah, 'a wood/clearing', hence 'a clearing on a ledge'; an English surname used for both sexes
U.S. rank (2024)#9430 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births11 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1964
Total births (all-time)≈ 72,573

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196418922024

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

Shelley comes from the Old English scylf, 'a ledge/shelf', + leah, 'a wood/clearing', hence 'a clearing on a ledge'; an English surname used for both sexes. A crisp, vintage name (here for a girl; slug distinguished; said 'SHEL-ee').

In the U.S. it appears as a mid-century given name (mostly girls). Rare today, a-clearing-on-a-ledge at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Shelley means 'a clearing on a ledge' (scylf + leah) — a crisp, vintage name used for both sexes (the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley bore it as a surname; said 'SHEL-ee').
Overall data confidence 34%
References — Shelley — English surname; unisex

Variations

ShellyShellieShelli

Nicknames

Shell

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Shelley…

Shelly— a kin spelling
Kelley— a sound-neighbor -ley girls' name
Shelby— a fellow Shel- girls' name
Ashley— a companion -ley surname name

Explore names like Shelley

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shelley mean?

Shelley is an English surname — 'a clearing on a ledge' (scylf + leah); used for both sexes; here for a girl.

How do you pronounce Shelley?

It's said SHEL-ee /ˈʃɛl.i/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Shelley a boy or girl name?

Shelley is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Shelley?

Shelley is a rare name in the U.S. today.

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