A 1950s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Shella since 1909
Babies named Shella per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 6 |
| 1910s | 14 |
| 1920s | 28 |
| 1930s | 43 |
| 1940s | 81 |
| 1950s | 241 |
| 1960s | 303 |
| 1970s | 205 |
| 1980s | 116 |
| 1990s | 69 |
| 2000s | 11 |
| 2010s | 6 |
| 2020s | 6 |
Meaning & origin
Shella is a rare given name in the United States, first recorded in 1909. It saw its peak in 1959, likely as a phonetic variant of Sheila, itself an Anglicization of the Irish Síle. Although it has never ranked in the top 1000, the name has experienced a slight uptick since 2022, reflecting a revival of vintage and soft-sounding names from the mid-20th century. Its top states are not recorded due to its rarity, but it is most often found in areas with Irish-American heritage.
Shella is likely a variant of Sheila, itself an Anglicized form of the Irish name Síle, which derives from the Latin name Cecilia. Cecilia was the name of a Roman martyr saint, and its meaning 'blind' is associated with the Latin 'caecus'. The name Shella emerged in the early 20th century as a phonetic spelling, possibly influenced by the similar sound of 'Shelly'.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Shel, Shey, Ella
Sibling names for Shella
Names that share Shella's style, for a brother or sister.
