Holding steady.
Popularity of Meshell since 1958
Babies named Meshell per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 6 |
| 1960s | 167 |
| 1970s | 162 |
| 1980s | 67 |
| 1990s | 78 |
| 2000s | 17 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Meshell is a rare American name that emerged in the late 1950s, first recorded in 1958. It reached its modest peak in 1966, after which it maintained very low but stable usage, never entering the top 1000. Because the name has never been common enough to generate a per-100,000 rate, it remains a highly uncommon choice. Its trajectory has been stable in recent decades, with no notable revival. The name is often considered a spelling variant of Michelle, which itself has enjoyed much greater popularity. As a modern coinage, Meshell reflects the mid-20th century trend of creating distinctive spellings of established names.
Meshell first appeared in the late 1950s in the United States. It is likely a respelling or variant of Michelle, the French feminine form of Michel, ultimately from Hebrew Michael meaning 'who is like God?'. The use of the 'a' in place of 'i' may reflect a creative spelling trend of the era. The name never gained widespread popularity, remaining rare.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mesh, Shell, Shelly
Sibling names for Meshell
Names that share Meshell's style, for a brother or sister.
