Sheldon
Meaningsteep valley · English
- US rank
- #2,765
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #247 in 1936
46 babies were named Sheldon in the US in 2025. It has dropped 893 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1931–2025
US births per million boys, 1881–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Sheldon you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Sheldon
Sheldon Glashow
American theoretical physicist
Choose Sheldon and your child shares a first name with Sheldon Glashow, an American theoretical physicist. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Sheldon, like who?” Sheldon Glashow's Wikipedia article is available in 71 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Sheldon Glashow on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Luboš Motl - Lumidek, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 37,175 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Sheldon, 46 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Sheldon would very likely be the only one.
- HistorySheldon first shows up in US birth records in 1881, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 144 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1936, when it ranked #247. Today it's #2,765, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowSheldon was 5.7× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 6,523 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 37,175.
- TrendSheldon has slipped 893 places over the last five years and now sits at #2,765. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIn English, Sheldon means “steep valley”.
About the name Sheldon
Sheldon is a boy name of English origin meaning “steep valley”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with S and ending in “-don”. US birth records list Sheldon for boys from 1881 to 2025, in 138 of those 145 years. Its best year was 1936, when it ranked #247 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #2,765, with 46 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 1.4 | 725,806 girls |
| 1940s | 1.4 | 729,927 girls |
| 1950s | 2.2 | 458,716 girls |
| 1960s | 4.3 | 233,100 girls |
| 1970s | 4.9 | 202,429 girls |
| 1980s | 5.0 | 201,207 girls |
| 1990s | 8.8 | 113,766 girls |
| 2000s | 4.8 | 206,897 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 37 | 26,810 boys |
| 1890s | 35 | 28,531 boys |
| 1900s | 92 | 10,824 boys |
| 1910s | 144 | 6,956 boys |
| 1920s | 279 | 3,585 boys |
| 1930s | 407 | 2,454 boys |
| 1940s | 277 | 3,606 boys |
| 1950s | 188 | 5,309 boys |
| 1960s | 210 | 4,752 boys |
| 1970s | 216 | 4,636 boys |
| 1980s | 181 | 5,537 boys |
| 1990s | 248 | 4,033 boys |
| 2000s | 124 | 8,063 boys |
| 2010s | 84 | 11,940 boys |
| 2020s | 39 | 25,543 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Sheldon
What does the name Sheldon mean?
Sheldon means “steep valley” in English.
What is the origin of the name Sheldon?
Sheldon has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Sheldon a boy or girl name?
Sheldon is a boy name.
How popular is the name Sheldon?
Sheldon ranked #2,765 for US boys in 2025, given to 46 babies. Its best year was 1936 (#247).