Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Shelia
GirlIrish, Latin· “variant of Sheila”
- Meaning
- variant of Sheila
- Origin
- Irish, Latin
- Pronunciation
- SHEE-luh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #170 (1959)
- Peak year
- 1959
Meaning and origin of Shelia
Shelia is an Irish and Latin name that is usually said to mean “variant of Sheila”.
Shelia is a spelling of Sheila, the anglicized form of the Irish Síle, which came from the Latin Caelia or Cecilia. The transposed letters in Shelia often reflect a spelling variation in American records. Sheila became common in the English-speaking world in the mid-twentieth century. It is said SHEE-luh. Shel is a possible nickname. The name has a friendly, mid-century feel. Sheila and Sheela are other spellings, and Cecilia is the distant source. The name pairs easily with short middle names.
Popularity over time
Shelia first appears in US Social Security records in 1915. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 46 different years, starting in 1937. Its best national rank was #170 in 1959, the same year it reached its highest count of 2,283 babies. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #4,335 in 1920, #242 in 1950, #762 in 1980, #4,636 in 2000, and #9,153 in 2010. Of the 47,780 US girls named Shelia since records began, 39% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 16,752 babies. Since 2010, 127 more have been named Shelia.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Teri, Carmen, Lynne, Tami, and Toni.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Shelia is usually pronounced SHEE-luh, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with S and ends in “-ia”.
Middle names for Shelia
A few middle names that flow with Shelia: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Shelia
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Lists that include Shelia
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Shelia mean?
Shelia is an Irish and Latin name that is usually said to mean “variant of Sheila”.
What is the origin of the name Shelia?
Shelia has Irish and Latin roots. Shelia is a spelling of Sheila, the anglicized form of the Irish Síle, which came from the Latin Caelia or Cecilia.
Is Shelia a popular name?
No. Shelia was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is Shelia a boy or girl name?
Shelia is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Shelia?
Shelia is usually pronounced SHEE-luh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings