Shelah
Shelah is an Irish and Latin girl name. Irish names are loved for their lilting sound and their links to Celtic saints and legends. It sounds crisp and confident, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Shelah would score 12 points, thanks largely to the H (worth 4).
- GenerationShelah peaked in 1948, which makes it a classic Baby Boomer name. The typical Shelah you'd meet today is about 77 years old.
- HistoryShelah first shows up in US birth records in 1935, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 90 years since.
US births per million girls, 1935–2025
Similar names
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Shelah
Shelah is a girl name of Irish and Latin origin. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It was most fashionable in the 1940s, which gives it a vintage, grandparent-chic charm. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Irish namesLatin names
Other spellings of Shelah
More Irish girl names
- Girl name: Abigail · my father is joy
- Unisex name: Riley · rye clearing
- Girl name: Maeve · she who intoxicates
- Unisex name: Kennedy · helmeted head
- Girl name: Alina · possibly noble
- Unisex name: Rylee · rye clearing
- Unisex name: Sloane · raider
- Unisex name: Alani · orange tree
Questions about the name Shelah
What is the origin of the name Shelah?
Shelah is Irish and Latin in origin. Names often travel between languages and cultures, which is why Shelah turns up in more than one tradition. Other Irish names to consider are Abigail (“my father is joy”), Riley (“rye clearing”), Maeve (“she who intoxicates”) and Kennedy (“helmeted head”).
Is Shelah a boy or girl name?
Shelah is a girl name.
How popular is the name Shelah?
Shelah is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2008. It peaked at #2,828 in 1948, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Shelah?
If you like Shelah, you might also like Sheela, Sheelah, Shela and Shella. Sheela is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Shelah?
Shelah is an Irish and Latin girl name. Irish names are loved for their lilting sound and their links to Celtic saints and legends. It sounds crisp and confident, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.