How Many People Are Named Shelton?
Complete statistics for the name Shelton: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Shelton is a rare name with roots in English surnames, making it very uncommon today with only 8,407 people bearing it in the US; that's just 1 in 39,254 Americans. The majority of Sheltons are over 60, indicating a strong generational skew towards older individuals.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Traditionally, life-path number 3 symbolizes creativity and self-expression.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 59All 12,122 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1972Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Shelton Through the Generations
Over the decades, Shelton has seen its peak popularity in 1972 when 185 babies were given this name. Since then, it has been on a steady decline, reflecting a shift away from traditional surnames as first names. Currently, there are 1,978 Sheltons under 30, 4,454 aged between 30 and 60, and 5,690 over 60, showing a significant aging demographic.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Shelton's English roots
📄 About the Name Shelton
How Many People Have the Name Shelton?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 85,839 people in the United States currently share the name Shelton. That works out to roughly 1 in every 3,861 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Shelton a Common or Rare Name?
Shelton is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Shelton Mean?
Shelton means "English surname used as a first name" and comes from English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Shelton in SSA data, approximately 98% are male and 2% are female.
When Was Shelton Most Popular?
The name Shelton reached peak popularity in 1972, with 185 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Shelton?
Approximately 85,839 people named Shelton live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 85,839. That works out to roughly 1 in 3,861 Americans.
Is Shelton a rare name?
Shelton is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 3,861 Americans has this name.
What does the name Shelton mean?
Shelton means "English surname used as a first name" and comes from English origins.
Is Shelton more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 98% of people named Shelton are male and 2% are female.
When was Shelton most popular?
Shelton peaked in 1972 with 185 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.