Sheila is a name of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "Síle" which means "she is peaceful". The name Sheila gained popularity in the mid-20th century and has been widely used since then.
The name Sheila is often associated with its variant spelling, Sheilah, which was popularized by the American actress Sheilah Graham. However, the original Irish form of the name is Sheila.
Historically, Sheila was not a common name in Ireland until the 19th century when it began to appear more frequently. Today, Sheila is still used as a given name but has become less popular in recent years.
Overall, Sheila is a name with a peaceful meaning and an Irish heritage that has been embraced by many families around the world.
The name Sheila experienced a significant rise in popularity during the mid-20th century, reaching its peak between the late 1940s and early 1950s with over 7,000 births per year. However, it has steadily declined since the 1960s, becoming quite rare in recent years, with fewer than 100 births per year recorded from 2008 onwards.