Sheila is a name of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "Síle" which means "she is peaceful". The name Sheila gained popularity in the mid-20th century and has been widely used since then.
The name Sheila is often associated with its variant spelling, Sheilah, which was popularized by the American actress Sheilah Graham. However, the original Irish form of the name is Sheila.
Historically, Sheila was not a common name in Ireland until the 19th century when it began to appear more frequently. Today, Sheila is still used as a given name but has become less popular in recent years.
Overall, Sheila is a name with a peaceful meaning and an Irish heritage that has been embraced by many families around the world.
Here are some interesting statistics about the name Sheila:
The name Sheila began to gain popularity in the United States around the early 1900s, with only nine babies given this name in 1907. However, its popularity grew steadily over the next few decades. By 1925, there were already over 200 births registered each year.
The name reached its peak popularity between the late 1930s and early 1940s, with a record high of 3,179 babies named Sheila in 1945. This period coincides with World War II, which may have influenced parents' choices of names.
However, after the war, the popularity of the name Sheila began to decline. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, there were fewer than 5,000 babies named Sheila each year. This downward trend continued into the 1980s and 1990s.
In recent years, the name Sheila has become quite rare in the United States. Between 2000 and 2023, there have been fewer than 150 births registered each year with this name. The lowest point was reached in 2018 and 2019, with only 90 and 96 babies named Sheila respectively.
Overall, since its introduction in the early 1900s, the name Sheila has been given to a total of 238,606 babies in the United States. Despite its decline in popularity in recent years, it remains an enduring classic that continues to be passed down through generations.