Shelly is a name of English origin that has gained popularity over the years. The name is derived from the word "shelter," which means to protect or guard someone from harm or difficulty. It was originally used as a girl's name, but it can also be used for boys.
The name Shelly is thought to have originated in the late 19th century when parents began using it as a short form of the name "Shelley," which was popularized by the Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. However, some sources suggest that Shelly may have been created independently as a separate name.
Despite its modern-sounding spelling, Shelly is an older name that has been used for several generations. It became particularly popular in the United States during the mid-20th century and remained in the top 1000 names for girls until the late 1980s.
Today, Shelly continues to be a popular choice among parents looking for unique yet familiar-sounding names for their children. While it may not have any specific historical or cultural significance beyond its poetic origins, Shelly's meaning as a protective shelter makes it a name with positive connotations that many people find appealing.
The name Shelly has been a popular choice for parents in the United States over the past century, with a significant number of babies being named Shelly each year.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the number of births with the name Shelly varied, ranging from as low as five to as high as eighteen in any given year. The name's popularity began to increase significantly around the 1920s, reaching a peak of twenty-nine births in 1923.
The 1930s and 1940s saw a steady decline in the number of Shelly births, with fewer than thirty births per year on average. However, the name's popularity rebounded in the post-World War II era, with over thirty Shelly births occurring each year between 1950 and 1976.
The 1980s and 1990s saw a further decline in the number of Shelly births, with fewer than ten births per year on average. In recent years, the name has become quite rare, with only five Shelly births occurring in both 2001 and 2007.
In total, there have been 2,190 babies named Shelly born in the United States since 1882. Despite fluctuations in its popularity over time, Shelly remains a classic name choice for parents looking for a timeless and distinctive option.