Shelon
A feminine name of uncertain origin, potentially meaning "shelter" or "peaceful".
Name Census estimates that about 18 living Americans carry the first name Shelon. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Shelon today is around 53 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Shelon births was 1970 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Shelon. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Shelon. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
18
~ 1 in 19,041,908 Americans
Peak year
1970
5 babies that year
Average age
53
years old
1975 SSA rank
#10,332
Tracked since 1970
Popularity
Shelon: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Shelon by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Shelon during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 | 20 | 20 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Shelon
The given name Shelon has its origins in the ancient Hebrew language, with roots tracing back to the biblical era. The name is believed to have been derived from the Hebrew word "shalom," which translates to "peace" or "wholeness." This connection suggests that Shelon may have been a name bestowed upon individuals with the hope of bringing serenity and harmony into their lives.
In the Old Testament, there are references to individuals bearing names with similar spellings, such as Shelah, the son of Judah and Bathshua, as recorded in the Book of Genesis. However, the exact spelling "Shelon" is not found in these ancient texts, indicating that it may have emerged as a variant or adaptation over time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shelon can be traced back to the 12th century. Shelon of Blois, a French nobleman and crusader, participated in the Third Crusade alongside King Richard I of England. His involvement in this significant historical event has preserved his name in the annals of crusading history.
Moving forward in time, Shelon Everett (1891-1965) was an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the state of Illinois from 1953 to 1961. His political career and contributions to public service have ensured that his name remains a part of American history.
In the realm of literature, Shelon Sarff (1926-2004) was a notable American poet and author. His works, including collections such as "Poems for a Small Planet" and "The Mourning of Flesh," explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the human condition, leaving a lasting impact on the literary landscape.
Another figure worth mentioning is Shelon Wilburn (1939-2018), an American musician and singer who was a member of the renowned gospel group The Wilburn Brothers. His musical talents and contributions to the genre of gospel music have solidified his place in the annals of American music history.
Lastly, Shelon Warne (born 1967) is an Australian former cricketer who captained the Australian national team in Test cricket. Known for his exceptional spin bowling skills and leadership on the field, Warne is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, cementing the name Shelon in the annals of sporting history.
While the name Shelon may not be as widely used today as it once was, its historical significance and the legacies of those who bore it continue to resonate, offering a glimpse into the rich tapestry of cultural and linguistic heritage across various regions and eras.
People
Shelon + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Shelon as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Shelon: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Shelon?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 18 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Shelon going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 19,041,908 US residents.
Is Shelon a common name?
We classify Shelon as "Very Rare". It ranks above 38.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 20 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Shelon most popular?
The single biggest year for Shelon was 1970, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Shelon is about 53 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Shelon in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Shelon a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Shelon in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Shelon still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Shelon in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Shelon can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Shelon?
Find out how many Americans are named Shelon on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.