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 has been given to a significant number of children born in the United States over the past century and a half. According to the statistics provided, there were only a few births each year between 1881 and 1905, with an average of around 7 births per year during this period.
However, the popularity of the name Sheldon began to rise significantly in the early 20th century. Between 1906 and 1923, there were an average of over 180 births each year with the name Sheldon. The peak of this trend occurred in 1924, when there were 311 births.
The popularity of the name Sheldon continued to fluctuate throughout the remainder of the century. Between 1956 and 1976, there were consistently around 300-400 births each year with the name Sheldon. However, this number began to decline in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
In recent years, the popularity of the name Sheldon has continued to decrease. Between 2006 and 2023, there were an average of only around 50 births each year with the name Sheldon. The lowest point in this period occurred in 2020, when there were only 79 births.
In total, over the past century and a half, there have been 36,548 births of children named Sheldon in the United States. While the popularity of the name has fluctuated significantly over time, it remains clear that many parents have chosen this name for their children throughout American history.