Sheldon is a name of English origin that has gained popularity in recent years due to its use in popular culture. It means "powerful" or "strong" and is derived from the Old German word "Schildo," which means shield. The name Sheldon is believed to have been brought to England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
The name Sheldon has a long history, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the Middle Ages in England. It was originally used as both a given name and a surname. As a given name, Sheldon was typically bestowed upon boys born into families with the surname Sheldon. Over time, however, the name became more widely used and is now considered unisex.
One of the earliest notable bearers of the name Sheldon was Sir Thomas Sheldon (1567-1642), who served as an English MP and courtier during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. Another famous bearer of the name is Sheldon Whitehouse (born 1930), a British-American mathematician and computer scientist who played a key role in the development of artificial intelligence.
In popular culture, the name Sheldon has been brought to wider attention through its use in various films, television shows, and other media. For example, Sheldon Lee "Shelly" Cooper is a main character in the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, while Sheldon J. Plankton is the antagonist in the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants.
Overall, Sheldon is a name with a rich history that dates back centuries. Its meaning and origins make it an appealing choice for parents looking for a strong and powerful name for their child. While its popularity has waxed and waned over the years, Sheldon remains a distinctive and memorable name that continues to be used today.
The name Sheldon experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a notable increase from the late 1910s to the early 1920s, peaking at 423 births in 1923. It maintained high levels of popularity throughout the 1920s and 1930s, reaching its peak of 501 births in 1990. However, it has been on a steady decline since then, with only 59 births recorded in 2023.