Boy · #5,559 in 2026

Shelton

Name: Popularity of the name Shelton in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Shelton, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#5,559

Peak Rank

#541 (1972)

Total Babies

12K

5-Yr Trend

-37%

1943

First Year

2013

Last Year

1997

Peak Year

#9017

Peak Rank

172

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Shelton

Shelton first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1972, when 179 Sheltons were born — ranking #596 that year. As of 2026, Shelton ranks #5,559 for baby boys with 17 births, falling sharply (-37%). In total, more than 12K Sheltons have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Shelton

Phonetically similar names — useful when Shelton is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Sheldon
Shelden
Scholten
Chilton
Shelta
Helton
Welton
Yelton
Whelton
Hilton
Sultan
Wilton

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Shelton

What does the name Shelton mean?

Shelton is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1880. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Shelton in 2026?

In 2026, Shelton ranks #5,559 among boys' names in the U.S., with 17 babies given the name that year.

When was Shelton most popular?

Shelton reached its peak popularity in 1972, ranking #541 that year with 179 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Shelton most popular?

Shelton has historically been most popular in Louisiana, District of Columbia, Maryland. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Shelton.

Is Shelton a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Shelton is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Shelton?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Shelton include Layton, Lynwood, Dock. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Shelton

Shelton is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 12K births in the dataset. Shelton's peak popularity came in 1972 when it ranked #541. Use the chart and map above to compare Shelton's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.