Declining since 1992, #13,208 for girls today.
Popularity of Shaylene since 1969
Babies named Shaylene per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 8 |
| 1970s | 75 |
| 1980s | 228 |
| 1990s | 353 |
| 2000s | 194 |
| 2010s | 109 |
| 2020s | 33 |
Meaning & origin
Shaylene is a modern invented name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1969, but saw its most significant usage during the 1990s. It peaked in popularity in 1993, when it ranked notably higher than its current position of 13,208th. Since 1992, its yearly usage has been declining, reflecting a broader shift away from creatively spelled -lene names. Despite its decline, Shaylene remains in occasional use, with about 1 in every 267,878 newborn girls receiving the name in 2025. The name has not been consistently associated with any particular U.S. state, indicating a diffuse rather than regional pattern of use.
Shaylene is a modern coinage, likely arising in the late 20th century. It may have been formed by combining the name Shay (itself a short form of names like Seamus or a surname) with the popular suffix -lene, seen in names like Darlene and Marlene. Alternatively, it could be a variant of Sheena, an Anglicization of the Irish Síne, or a feminine form of the Irish name Shay. Its usage peaked in the early 1990s, reflecting the trend for novel, melodic girls' names in that era.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Shay, Lena
Sibling names for Shaylene
Names that share Shaylene's style, for a brother or sister.
