Shelly

Updated: October 10, 2023 by Sarah Nance

Shelly is a baby girl’s name that was popular in the second half of the 20th century. Shelly is of English and Old English origin, meaning either “who is like God?” or “clearing on a bank.” Shelly is a diminutive of the name Michelle. The name Shelly is fairly common, and its history is rich. Let's explore the backstory behind this name.

Meaning and Origin of the name Shelly:

Shelly is a baby girl’s name with two possible English origins. Shelly is an English diminutive of the French name Michelle and means “who is like God?”. Shelly is also derived from the surname Shelley, which derives from an Old English term meaning “clearing on a bank.”

Symbolism of the name Shelly:

Shelley is a surname for someone who lived in a clearing near the bank of a river.

Nicknames for the name Shelly:

Shell
Elly
Ella
Elle
She
SheShe
Ell
S
Shay

Style of the name Shelly:

Modern

Gender of the name Shelly:

Shelly is a girl's name.

Pronunciation of the name Shelly:

SHEHL-ee

Number of syllables in the name Shelly:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Shelly:

Shelly evokes feelings of friendliness and joy.

Alternative spellings for the name Shelly:

Shelley, Shellie, Chelly, Chellie

Popularity of the name Shelly:

According to the Social Security Administration, Shelly was a popular baby girl’s name in the second half of the 20th century. Shelly first appeared in the top 1000 names in 1948, and its last appearance was in 1996. Shelly peaked at #89 in 1966.