Sheldon
Boy name · #2767 in 2025 · Uniqueness 88/100
Sheldon is currently the #2767 boy name in the United States — 46 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1279, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 39,130 boys born in 2025 was named Sheldon.
The 144-year story
Sheldon first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1992, when 608 boys were named Sheldon — good for #380 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Sheldon per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Sheldon against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Sheldon in class?
Sheldon scores 88 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Sheldon will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Sheldon is most common
State-level data for Sheldon is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Sheldon
Statistically, parents drawn to Sheldon tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Brendon, Stephon, Jordon, Stephan, and Tyron.
BrendonStephonJordonStephanTyronDentonSerafinShelby
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Sheldon | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 46 | #2765 |
| 2024 | 81 | #1938 |
| 2023 | 60 | #2315 |
| 2022 | 68 | #2150 |
| 2021 | 72 | #2040 |
| 2020 | 79 | #1872 |
| 2019 | 110 | #1534 |
| 2018 | 126 | #1396 |
| 2017 | 134 | #1335 |
| 2016 | 131 | #1356 |
| 2015 | 140 | #1279 |
| 2014 | 166 | #1143 |
| 2013 | 180 | #1054 |
| 2012 | 216 | #942 |
| 2011 | 176 | #1066 |
| 2010 | 200 | #984 |
| 2009 | 189 | #1027 |
| 2008 | 211 | #952 |
| 2007 | 206 | #955 |
| 2006 | 242 | #841 |
| 2005 | 257 | #772 |
| 2004 | 239 | #760 |
| 2003 | 230 | #767 |
| 2002 | 265 | #687 |
| 2001 | 329 | #601 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sheldon a popular boy name?
Sheldon ranked #2767 among boys in 2025 with 46 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1279.
When was the name Sheldon most popular?
Sheldon peaked in 1992, when 608 American boys received the name (ranked #380 that year). Since 1992 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Sheldon?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 39,130 newborn American boys was named Sheldon. It scores 88/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.