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Home › Baby Names Directory › Shiela

Shiela

♀ Girl

Pronounced SHEE-lah /ˈʃiː.lə/High

Meaning: Shiela is a metathesized spelling of Sheila, the anglicized form of Irish Síle, itself from the Latin Cecilia. Cecilia traces to caecus ('blind'); the name is often given the softer gloss 'heavenly'.Medium

In 30 seconds: Sheila with the vowels swapped: Shiela comes from Irish Sile (Cecilia), often read as 'heavenly' (said 'SHEE-lah').
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Origin MediumIrish, Latin
MeaningShiela is a metathesized spelling of Sheila, the anglicized form of Irish Síle, itself from the Latin Cecilia. Cecilia traces to caecus ('blind'); the name is often given the softer gloss 'heavenly'.
U.S. rank (2001)#11897 ↗ Rising
2001 U.S. births8 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1970
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,408

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197019082001

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

Shiela is a variant spelling of Sheila, the anglicized Irish Síle from Latin Cecilia. As Sheila became widely popular, the swapped-vowel spelling Shiela followed, cresting around 1970. It faded with the wider Sheila trend.

Uncommon now, it reads as a period respelling of an Irish classic. Soft, familiar, and of its time.

Did you know? Shiela is a common misspelling-turned-variant of Sheila, the Irish Síle — a form that trailed the Sheila boom and peaked around 1970.
Overall data confidence 60%
References — Shiela — Variant of Sheila; Irish Síle from Cecilia

Variations

SheilaSheilahSheela

Nicknames

ShiLala

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Shiela…

Sheila— the standard spelling Shiela reworks
Sheilah— a like variant of the same name
Sheena— a similar anglicized Irish name
Kayla— a like soft two-beat girl's name

Explore names like Shiela

By themevintageirish1970srespelled

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Shiela mean?

Shiela is a spelling of Sheila, from the Irish Síle (Cecilia), traditionally 'blind' and often softened to 'heavenly'.

How do you pronounce Shiela?

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

Is Shiela a boy or girl name?

Shiela is used as a girl's name.

Is Shiela making a comeback?

Shiela is uncommon today; the standard Sheila is the likelier form to appear.

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