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Meaning
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Pronunciation
Famous
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The protagonists of the TV show "Peaky Blinders" are the Shelby family, with the main character being named Tommy Shelby.
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It's a cool name that I can picture on any gender quite easily. Gives a bit of coolness as a feminine name, gives a touch of softness in the sound as a masculine name. I hope if this is your name you are proud and happy with it!
Naturally I think of the classic muscle car design of vintage Mustangs, so that's what lends this name a positive, effortlessly cool image.
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Naturally I think of the classic muscle car design of vintage Mustangs, so that's what lends this name a positive, effortlessly cool image.
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Ick so Ick. Masculine sounding not a good name for a girl.
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Dated.
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I love the name Shelby. I think it's really cute (in a good way). This name reminds me of seashells and pearls, and corals.
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I was also named after the Steel Magnolias character, Shelby. Such an amazing actor, one of my favorites. Plus the plot of the movie was amazing and they chose such great names for the characters ;)
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My name is Shelby. I love my name no matter what people say... I always hear people saying "it reminds me of shells" yet I always hated the nickname Shell and Shells! I don't think it is very common though a boy entered my school and his name was Shelby. If you are thinking of a name for your child and it's a boy, Shelby is not the one. Very girly and feminine. Everyone always says they love my name...i was born in 2011 and I have met about 3 female Shelbys and hear about a boy Shelby in my school. So cute though, my middle name is Bryn. I do suppose nicknames like Bee, Shelb, Shelbs, Shellbee (Shell-bees), and Belby (my mother's nickname for me) are cute nicknames but i hate nicknames like Shell, Shells, Shelly...the meaning of the name is the opposite of those nicknames! I love how rare it is and how I can get a car that has the same name as me ;)
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My twin sister's called Shelby, the name isn't popular in the UK though, she was named after Carroll Shelby. We were born in 2007, so the name is still thriving!
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Shelby is a character in the Girl, Missing series by Sophie Mackenzie. I like the name because of her.
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First Lieutenant Shelby F. Westbrook (1922 – 2016) was a United States Army Air Force officer. He was a Tuskegee Airman active during World War II.
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Shelby Rabara Shum (née Rabara) is an American actress and dancer who has appeared in a number of films, television series and commercials as both an actress and a dancer. Rabara is known for providing the voice of Peridot for the Steven Universe franchise on Cartoon Network.
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Shelby Miller is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants.
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Shelby Rogers is an American professional tennis player. She has career-high WTA rankings of world No. 30 in singles achieved August 2022 and No. 40 in doubles, achieved February 2022, and has won six singles and two doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit. She won the girls' national championship at 17. Her best results as a professional came at the 2016 French Open and the 2020 US Open where she reached the quarterfinals.
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I have experienced some conflicting feelings about my name over the past 16 years (I’m 26) seeing as how I’m a fella named Shelby, but after having 3 other people share my name in my third grade class (who all three of were girls) I had a great opportunity to confront the idea that women will share the name with me. What I came away with is that despite anyone else who has it, is that it’s my name too. Even though my name is found to be used more for women that doesn’t change the fact that as long as I carry it on myself as my name, it remains to be a man’s name as well.
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It's cute. I would never use it but I don't despise it.
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Cute!
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Cute name, but it makes me think of stuffed shells, and that makes me hungry.
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I'm trans and this is my deadname so while I think it IS very cute in a not-used-to-refer-to-me context everyone dunking on it in the comments is making me laugh.
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Unusual, rare name. I like it a lot! It's interesting, unusual, just a beautiful name and it fits well for a female, but not for a male. Sweet!
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I agree with DeeDeeRee.
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So sexy for a girl. I love masculine but feminine names (kind of feminine, kind of masculine).
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Hiya I'm 17 and I'm a transgirl and I've been having trouble with finding a new name. Like I've made a whole list of names to choose from but one I always come back to is Shelby. Growing up my pappa had a big mixed breed dog named Shelby. When I would spend time with my pappa she would always be by my side protecting me and making sure I was safe and I have a lot good memories with her so when I hear Shelby I think of a protector in a way but when I brought up changing my name to that with my girlfriend it surprised me when she said it sounded hella basic. I asked most of my friends about it and half of them said it sounded basic too which kinda makes me sad tbh I'm thinking of changing it to Shelby even though I'm worried about being judged for it. So I'll leave off with this, if you are thinking of changing your name (trans or not) don't be afraid of other peoples opinion. Don't be like me lmao.
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Oh, I think Shelby is cute. You don't listen to it every day, which makes it more special. I think it has its charm and it strikes me as a much prettier name than Kelly, Jenny or Holly. I think it's a very nice name and I can't quite understand why people have such a low opinion of it.
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Somehow the Shelby’s I know are rather tough.
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Shelby is a really cute name.
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I love the name!
All the Shelbys I knew were girls, and I only like it on girls.
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All the Shelbys I knew were girls, and I only like it on girls.
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Scrolling through these comments made me sad :(
My name is Shelby, and I’ve never been a fan so I’ve always called myself “Bee” or “Shel”. I’ve grown to love my name as it’s so beautiful and unique to who I am and my personality. But this forum has just made me realise, should I hate my name after all?
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My name is Shelby, and I’ve never been a fan so I’ve always called myself “Bee” or “Shel”. I’ve grown to love my name as it’s so beautiful and unique to who I am and my personality. But this forum has just made me realise, should I hate my name after all?
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Shelbymc, don’t listen to these stupid comments, your name is amazing! It is unique and not like the other names that are getting boring, you should feel proud you have a name that is different.
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For anyone who thinks Shelby is a masculine name...
Shelby is a girl in our class who is really tough, I dare you to say that to her face and she will smack you to China and back, lol.
And plus, she has lots and lots of friends so you don’t say that ever again without getting murdered by a million other people.
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Shelby is a girl in our class who is really tough, I dare you to say that to her face and she will smack you to China and back, lol.
And plus, she has lots and lots of friends so you don’t say that ever again without getting murdered by a million other people.
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Ew, I hate this name. Something about it just is like... No, lol. Shelby & any other spelling of this name are just gross in my opinion. Thankful that that isn't my name.
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Shelby is my cousin's dog's name. She is one of the most darling dogs on this Earth, so I kinda love this name. Not really for humans though.
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Not very pretty, in my opinion.
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Childish.
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I hate this name. Sounds hideous and trashy.
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This name is sooo dumb, like an idiot person would name someone that. Like what the heck?! *cross arms* *eye roll*
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My former-mother-in-law Shelby Jean, was born in 1940, and was a very sweet woman who had had a difficult, poor childhood. When my youngest granddaughter was born in 2007, she was named after her great-grandmother and was the last great-grandchild born before Shelby Jean passed in 2008.
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For me, Shelby is the name of my first love, so this name will always seem lovely to me.
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I don't understand why the 'automotive' connotations are seen as bad. Being named after the legendary Carroll Shelby is something special. (google him)
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'Shelby coming 'round the mountain' comes to mind.
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My only link with Shelby is a character in 'American Horror Story: Roanoke' as I've never seen 'The Woman in Red' (unfortunately).
After the TV series's link I find Shelby too surnamey and nicknamey. It is worse than Shelley which has instead a strong literarian vibe.
Then Shelby is too similar to the Italian adjective 'scialbo' that means "dull, faint, colourless, flat' so it has quite the same personality.
My rating for it is 2/10.
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After the TV series's link I find Shelby too surnamey and nicknamey. It is worse than Shelley which has instead a strong literarian vibe.
Then Shelby is too similar to the Italian adjective 'scialbo' that means "dull, faint, colourless, flat' so it has quite the same personality.
My rating for it is 2/10.
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Another automobile related name that sounds trashy on a human, like Mercedes, Bentley, and Lexus.
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Low class trash truck name. Ditz-o-rama.
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My name is Shelby and I think it sounds sort of like something a pole dancer would call herself to be honest, but I think it can sound brave and beautiful too, depending on how you say it I guess. I think the name sounds feminine and masculine in my opinion. My dad got to choose my name and I'm honestly glad he chose Shelby (he's really into cars and so am I) and my uncle calls me Shelby Cobra or just Cobra because of the car and I like that. To me, Shelby sounds like a blonde or black haired girl's name. I don't know, call me weird but that's my opinion.
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In my opinion, I think it’s more feminine than masculine. Just like Madison and Mackenzie. If it is popular for females with the masculine usage on hold, it should be labeled “Feminine and Masculine” rather than “Masculine and Feminine”.
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In 2018, 19 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Shelby who is registered female with the Social Security Administration. It is the 401st most common female first name for living U.S. citizens.
In 2018, 19 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Shelby who is registered male with the Social Security Administration. It is the 1, 821st most common male first name for living U.S. citizens.
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In 2018, 19 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Shelby who is registered male with the Social Security Administration. It is the 1, 821st most common male first name for living U.S. citizens.
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I knew a teenage mom who gave her daughter this name. I have never cared for it because it sounds trashy and unfeminine. This name ruined Steel Magnolias for me. They should've called that character Louisa or Savannah instead.
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Shelby Miller is a female character in the 2016 TV series 'American Horror Story: Roanoke'.
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Shelby is the name of the mean girl in A Cinderella Story, as famously portrayed by Julie Gonzalo.
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Makes me think of a goofy, country, ditzy girl.
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My best friend is named Shelby. She is very creative and nice. Shelby is beautiful just like her name so it fits perfectly! This is going to be my future baby girl's middle name. :)
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I know a male Shelby, he goes by his middle name though. I think it's a cool name for a boy and rather dated to the 90s for a girl.
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I don't really like the name Shelby. It's okay though.
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I'm 14 and I hate my name. It sounds like trash, and it doesn't sound professional. I don't know any successful Shelby's. People say I have a pretty name but I just can't stand when I hear people say my name.
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The name Shelby was given to 32 boys born in the US in 2015.
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I've always had a soft spot for the name Shelby on a girl. Like Lucy, it makes me think of a sweet, soft spoken and smart young girl :3.
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My name is Shelby. I HATE it! Like many people have said, it is an ugly name and I hope to change it when I can.
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I love this name. If I have a daughter, I might name her Shelby. This name is too feminine for a boy. This name is cute, so I might give her a more mature middle name(s). Euhnneek spellings like "Shellbie", and "Shelbi" are just terrible. But I love the name Shelby. It does remind me of a shell, but that's cute.
I don't know anyone called Shelby, but I have heard of a few people called that.
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I don't know anyone called Shelby, but I have heard of a few people called that.
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For some reason (and do remember, this is just my view even if it may slide into the category of "immaturity") I typically picture a "Shelby" on a chubby\overweight type of female.
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I don't like this name on either gender. Not necessarily because of the sound, but because the only Shelby I ever knew was a rich, snobbish, annoying and spoiled brat that bragged about every little thing that happened to her. Anyway, I don't like the sound much, either.
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Well, I love this name. My husband and I picked this name before we were even married or pregnant. I named my son Shelby Jackson (Dad's name is Jack!).
He is 23 years old now and didn't love it growing up, probably because all of his teachers automatically assumed he was a girl before actually meeting him in class. Both his father and I still really like his name and feel that it suits him. However, to set the record straight, yes, he was named after Steel Magnolias to an extent. Even in the movie, Daryl Hannah's character tells Shelby's mother that she is naming her unborn child after Shelby. Shelby's mother asks "Well what if it's a boy?" and she says, "Well, Shelby, I guess!" So to me that made it alright for both a girl or boy.
Just wanted to add something for everyone to think about, be "Shelby" your own name or a name you like for naming.
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He is 23 years old now and didn't love it growing up, probably because all of his teachers automatically assumed he was a girl before actually meeting him in class. Both his father and I still really like his name and feel that it suits him. However, to set the record straight, yes, he was named after Steel Magnolias to an extent. Even in the movie, Daryl Hannah's character tells Shelby's mother that she is naming her unborn child after Shelby. Shelby's mother asks "Well what if it's a boy?" and she says, "Well, Shelby, I guess!" So to me that made it alright for both a girl or boy.
Just wanted to add something for everyone to think about, be "Shelby" your own name or a name you like for naming.
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My name is a subsort of Shelby but my dad's a trucker and he was thinking so my name is spelt Shellbie something different and yet I haven't been able to find a single Shellbie like me.
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I really only like it for girls; suppose I can blame Steel Magnolias for that! ;p.
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Shelby is a character in Adventure Time. A memorable quote he says in one episode is "Cheque please".
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I'm way older than all of you. I was born in 1947 in Philadelphia. My mother named me Shelby, which for a girl was pretty unique, since from what I came to understand was a boy's name, popular in the South. Like one poster said, there's Shelby, North Carolina; also, Shelby County, Georgia (Atlanta); and Shelbyville, Tennessee, etc. Shelby was a famous Confederate soldier who took his men and their families to Mexico instead of surrendering. God's honest truth! So why the ?$! Did my mother name me Shelby. It has haunted me all these years. I hated the name so much that on my first day of Kindergarten, when it was my turn to introduce myself to the class I said: "My name is Sally!" God's honest truth! And therein began a difficult, and erstwhile challenging relationship with my teachers until high school graduation. All I wanted was to be like all the other girls with a girl's name.
Sooo, ever the researcher I looked up the history of the name Shelby last night after reading these comments and to my surprise the popularity of the moniker as a girl's name did not begin with Steel Magnolias. Amazingly, it became somewhat popular (more girls named than boys) in the mid-1930's because of Barbara Stanwyk's character, Shelby Barret in the movie, The Woman in Red (1935). I think my mother had the name already picked out in case my older brother had been a girl (he was born in 1940).
Scroll forward to the present day, I kind of like my name as I matured, but I definitely don't like bastardizing the name with bizarre spellings just to be cute. I used to say I was named after Carroll Shelby, Mustang's creator--that is, until I went to Maui and I met another Shelby-- who really truly was named after him. He was her godfather!
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Sooo, ever the researcher I looked up the history of the name Shelby last night after reading these comments and to my surprise the popularity of the moniker as a girl's name did not begin with Steel Magnolias. Amazingly, it became somewhat popular (more girls named than boys) in the mid-1930's because of Barbara Stanwyk's character, Shelby Barret in the movie, The Woman in Red (1935). I think my mother had the name already picked out in case my older brother had been a girl (he was born in 1940).
Scroll forward to the present day, I kind of like my name as I matured, but I definitely don't like bastardizing the name with bizarre spellings just to be cute. I used to say I was named after Carroll Shelby, Mustang's creator--that is, until I went to Maui and I met another Shelby-- who really truly was named after him. He was her godfather!
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I really like the name Shelby for a boy. I think it's really unique, the only boy Shelby I know of is Reba Mcentire's son.
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This is my name and I always thought it sounded really dumb and childish, which is why I sometimes go by my middle name, but that sounds even MORE dumb and childish. I really cannot imagine being 70 and people calling me Shelby. Seriously, whenever I hear people say my name aloud, I cringe a little. Also, I had a teacher in high school who was really into Mustangs, so when ever he called my name he would say "Mustang Shelby".
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This is my name, but I don't like it very much. I wish my full first name was Michelle and that Shelby was my nickname.
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I don't like it for either gender. I guess it's the "b" sound I don't like. I just don't like it. Sorry.
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Not a fan. Looks kinda of ugly, no offense.
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This spelling of Shelby just looks a bit strange to me. But that's probably because this is one of my best friend's names but it's spelled ShelbIE. I don't know why they don't have that on here. I guess it's just a really rare spelling.
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Shelby Merrick (A.J. Cook) was one of the main characters on the T.V. show Higher Ground about a school for Juvenile Delinquents in the mountains of Washington, which aired in 1999/2000 on Fox Family channel and sadly only lasted one season.
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This is my name and I really don't like it. When I'm older I'll probably go by my middle name or change Shelby to something else. I get called so many nicknames most of which suck. Sheebie, Sheby, Shelber, Shelburt, Sherbert. That last one is kinda funny.
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I like this name. It's cute. My parents gave me the idea of using it. I might just use it one day.
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My name is Shelby, and I was named simply because my mother thought it was rare, until those peaches came out, the toys. Of course, the cars were first. It does have originality, but as I grow older, I'm not liking it too much, because there aren't any real nicknames to go with it, and everyone calls me Shelley, so I can't write cursive.
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A variant of the Furby toy that has a shell is called a Shelby.
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I can't imagine this name on a guy, it's definitely very feminine. It sounds like Shelly, and it has that ''ee'' sound to it, even if a short one. It's a cute name, but a tad too cute. It sounds more like a little girl name than the name of a mature, grown woman. Of course, I've never heard of successful women mamed Shelby, which might give me that idea. This name is still much better than monstrosities like Coco, Keeley, Angel, and other infantile names like that.
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I named my daughter Shelby, also after the Mustang, 1968 Shebly GT 500 KR (king of the road). And besides it is a beautiful name for a girl.
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I love this name! It is my best friend's name. It reminds me a little of a shell, but that's cute.
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As this is my name I can tell you that growing up "willow farm" was not what this name meant. The meaning that use to be in all the name books and the one I believe to be correct is "cliff dweller." It's funny how people tend to touch names up a bit when they become popular, willow farm is a bit nicer to swallow I suppose but it isn't correct.
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Eek, no offense to Shelbys, but I don't like this name. It just sounds ugly. (not the person, the name)
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I named my daughter Shelby and I LOVE IT! It fits her and it's a very beautiful name, I just wish it had more meaning to it.
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Shelby is the name of country music singer Reba McEntire's son.
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One of the cutest names ever! I love this name a lot, because one of my best friends' names is Shelby!
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This is a really beautiful and classy name! I love the soft SH sound. When I was a kid I wished this was my name, now I will settle for giving the name to my kid.
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I called my daughter Shelby. Loved the name and still do, she is now 14 and there are only 2 in her school.
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This is the most awful name I've ever heard. It reminds me of a turtle. Shelby sounds like a trailor trash name.
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There is no "other" way to spell Shelby. Adding random letters just makes the name meaningless, trendy, and made up in general, I'm sorry it's ridiculous.
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Another way Shelby can be spelled is Shelbey, which is my real name. My mother, Merridy (a variation on Merridith), got creative and added the second "e" in it.
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Shelby for a girl appeared on the top 1000 list in the 1930's. Its most popular year was the 1990's where it ranked 44. Shelby for a boy appeared on the top 1000 list from the 1880's to the 1990's. Its most popular year was in the 1930's where it ranked 471.
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My name is Shelby and I'm named after a 1968 Shelby Mustang GT. I used to love my name but it sort of lost its charm when everyone started naming their kids Shelby and then it got really bad when they started changing the spelling to make it "trendy".
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Child actress Shelby Hoffman, along with her sister Kara, played Sunny Baudelaire in A Series of Unfortunate Events.
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I love this name, it is very pretty and a name you can grow up with.
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There is a series of children's books that the leading character is a beautiful mermaid named Shelby. I do not remember who wrote them though.
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Beautiful, intelligent, and classy. That is what I think of when I hear the name Shelby. If I ever have a daughter, her name will be Shelby Faith.
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I think the name is very pretty. One of my closest mates is called that from a film. It's a great name just like her.
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This is the name of Julia Roberts' character in the sad 1989 movie Steel Magnolias.
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My sister's name is Shelbi. It's a twist on the original, but it's a cool name.
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Carroll Shelby, famous car maker, known designer of the Cobra, or more well known Viper.
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