Shell
Girl name · American · English · French
- US rank
- Unranked
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #3,149 in 1965
0 babies were named Shell in the US in 2025.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1951–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Shell you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- HistoryShell first shows up in US birth records in 1951, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 74 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1965, when it reached #3,149.
About the name Shell
Shell is a girl name of American, English and French origin. It has 5 letters and 1 syllable, starting with S and ending in “-ell”. US birth records list Shell for girls from 1951 to 1986, in 23 of those 36 years. Its best year was 1965, when it ranked #3,149 among girl names. It hasn't been given to 5 or more US babies in a year since 1986, so today it's a genuinely rare choice.
Origin:American namesEnglish namesFrench names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.0 | 502,793 girls |
| 1960s | 6.1 | 164,474 girls |
| 1970s | 2.4 | 416,667 girls |
| 1980s | 1.3 | 786,517 girls |
More American girl names
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Girl name: Daisy · day's eye
- Girl name: Josie · he will add
- Unisex name: Kinsley · king's meadow
- Girl name: Sienna · from Siena
- Unisex name: Brooklyn · from Brooklyn, New York
- Girl name: Summer · summer
- Unisex name: Stevie · crown
Questions about the name Shell
What is the origin of the name Shell?
Shell has American, English, French roots in our records. Other American names include Lainey, Daisy, Josie.
Is Shell a boy or girl name?
Shell is a girl name.
How popular is the name Shell?
Shell is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1986. It peaked at #3,149 in 1965.