Declining since 2018, #9,714 for boys today.
Popularity of Shalev since 2002
Babies named Shalev per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 25 |
| 2010s | 78 |
| 2020s | 31 |
Meaning & origin
Shalev is a modern Hebrew name that first entered the U.S. Social Security data in 2002, reflecting its adoption among Israeli-American families and others seeking a name with a calm, peaceful meaning. Its popularity in the United States has always been extremely low, though it reached its highest rank of 9,714 in 2025, with a peak year of 2019 suggesting a brief uptick in interest. Since 2018, the name has shown a falling trajectory, meaning fewer babies have been given this name in recent years. Despite its rarity, Shalev fits into a broader trend of Hebrew names that are simple, meaningful, and easy to pronounce in English.
Shalev derives from the Hebrew word "shalev" (שָׁלֵו), meaning calm or tranquil. It is a modern Hebrew name that has been used in Israel since the late 20th century, often chosen for its peaceful connotation. The name appears in the Bible as an adjective describing a state of ease, but not as a personal name until modern times.
“Shalev” around the world
Where Shalev lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Shali, Lev
Sibling names for Shalev
Names that share Shalev's style, for a brother or sister.
