Shelia Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Shelia is an Irish name that means 'heavenly'. It originated from the Irish form 'Síle', which is related to Latin 'Caelius'. The name evolved through various forms to become popular in the 20th century. It carries traits of grace and beauty, with no biblical relevance.
The name Shelia is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Shelia has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Shelia' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3872nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6498th out of 10718 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3272nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 789th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 203rd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 298th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1501st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6188th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 11212th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Shelia' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Shelia"
Pronunciation
/ˈʃiːliə/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
The name Shelia is derived from the Irish name 'Síle', which is a form of 'Celia' and ultimately comes from the Latin name 'Caelius', meaning 'heavenly' or 'of the heavens'.
Meaning
heavenly
Language Evolution
Celia, Síle, Shelia
Historical Usage
Shelia gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a feminine name associated with a sense of grace and beauty.
Variants & Derivatives
Sheila, Sile, Celia
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Shelia is perceived as a classic and elegant name, though it is less common than its variants like Sheila.
Famous People
Shelia Jackson Lee, Shelia E., Shelia H. White
Explore More Shelia Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Shelia"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Shelia"
"Shelia" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3872nd of 7552 | 77 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 6498th of 10718 | 34 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3272nd of 9107 | 139 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 789th of 9204 | 1,519 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 203rd of 12526 | 30,270 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 298th of 19264 | 13,896 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1501st of 27321 | 1,546 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 6188th of 35406 | 312 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 11212th of 30306 | 98 |
Regional Popularity of "Shelia" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Shelia" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
44.50% 688th/1546 |
60.48% 941st/1556 |
27.20% 640th/2353 |
62.12% 961st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
13.29% 296th/2227 |
22.06% 536th/2430 |
3.61% 103rd/2853 |
19.96% 554th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
13.69% 402nd/2937 |
20.59% 717th/3483 |
4.52% 159th/3518 |
20.20% 817th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
48.58% 1790th/3685 |
70.15% 3139th/4475 |
19.75% 1026th/5194 |
43.80% 2767th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
100.00% 7313th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Shelia"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Shelia" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.