Sheldon
Sheldon is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Valley with steep sides; protected hill.
Origin and history
Sheldon originates as an Old English habitational surname derived from elements meaning steep-sided valley or hill. Historically used as a given name in Anglo-Saxon contexts, it grew moderately popular in the 20th century U.S. today, it is widely recognized, partly due to iconic pop culture characters.
Popularity in the United States
36,676 babies in the United States have been named Sheldon since 1880. It ranks #594 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1522.
States where it is most popular
- NY (20.1 %)
- CA (8.1 %)
- PA (7.8 %)
- IL (7.2 %)
- OH (4.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 36 |
| 1890-1900 | 41 |
| 1900-1910 | 126 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,037 |
| 1920-1930 | 3,078 |
| 1930-1940 | 4,296 |
| 1940-1950 | 4,038 |
| 1950-1960 | 3,804 |
| 1960-1970 | 4,032 |
| 1970-1980 | 3,557 |
| 1980-1990 | 3,340 |
| 1990-2000 | 4,837 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,469 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,579 |
| 2020-2029 | 406 |
Famous people named Sheldon
- Sheldon Harnick: Lyricist, Songwriter
- Sheldon Whitehouse: Politician, Lawyer
- Sheldon Silver: Politician, Lawyer
Nicknames
Shel, Shelly
Fun facts
- The name originally denoted families living near steep-sided valleys or hills in places like Derbyshire and Warwickshire, England.
- The name experienced a resurgence in public consciousness through the fictional character Sheldon Cooper on television.