Sheala

Meaning & origin

Sheala is a variant of the Irish name Sheila, which became popular among English speakers in the 19th century. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1979, but has never entered the top 1000. It reached its peak usage in 1998, when it was given to approximately 20 baby girls. Since then, its usage has declined and the trajectory has remained stable, with fewer than 5 births per year in recent years. Sheala is most common in states with Irish American populations, though it has never been concentrated enough to appear in top state lists. The name is a modern respelling of the traditional Sheila, reflecting a trend toward phonetic spellings in the late 20th century.

Sheala is a variant spelling of Sheila, which itself is an anglicized form of the Irish name Síle. Síle is the Irish equivalent of Cecilia, derived from the Latin name Caecilia, meaning 'blind'. The name entered English usage in the 19th century and became popular in Ireland and among Irish diaspora communities. Variant spellings like Sheala emerged in the 20th century, particularly in the United States.