Shelley
Meaning: “clearing on a bank”
About the name Shelley
Shelley is a girl name with Old English roots, meaning “clearing on a bank”.
It has a vintage, unique feel. In 2025, Shelley ranked #8280 for girls in the US, with 13 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 1964. Since 2000, 99% of US babies named Shelley were girls.
Etymology
From Old English, meaning “clearing on a bank”.
Name meaning adapted from Wiktionary (“Shelley”) by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- US rank 2025
- #8280
- In 2015
- #8877
- Babies in 2025
- 13
Popularity of Shelley, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Names similar to Shelley
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.