Shelby is a given name, a transferred use of the northern English surname. Its meaning is uncertain. It has been in use as a given name, mainly in North America, since the 1700s. Initial usage for boys was probably influenced by Isaac Shelby (1750-1826), a United States Revolutionary War commander and later governor of Kentucky.[1] Usage for girls has been influenced by its use for the character Shelby Barret Wyatt in the 1935 film The Woman in Red and the character Shelby Eatonten-Latcherie in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias.[2]
 Isaac Shelby, the first governor of Kentucky. | |
| Gender | Unisex |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | English |
| Origin | |
| Meaning | Transferred use of English surname |
People
Men
- Shelby Lee Adams (born 1950), American photographer
- Shelby Blackstock (born 1990), American racing driver
- Shelby Brewer (1937–2015), American nuclear engineer
- Shelby Bryan (born 1946), American technology executive
- Shelby Coffey III (born 1946/1947), American journalist and business executive
- Shelby Moore Cullom (1829–1914), member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, and 17th Governor of Illinois
- Shelby Cullom Davis (1909–1994), American investment banker, philanthropist and United States Ambassador to Switzerland
- Shelby Davis (born 1937), American money manager; son of Shelby Cullom Davis
- Shelby Foote (1916–2005), American historian and novelist
- Shelby Gaines (fl. mid-1990s), American musician and visual artist
- Shelby Harris (born 1991), American football player
- Shelby Millard Harrison (1881–1970), American social scientist
- Shelby Highsmith (1929–2015), American federal judge
- Shelby Howard (born 1985), American racing driver
- Shelby D. Hunt (1939–2022), American business theorist
- Shelby Jacobs (1935–2022), American engineer
- Shelby James (born 1973), American sport cyclist
- Shelby Jordan (1952–2022), American football player
- Shelby Kutty (fl. 1990s), Indian-born American cardiologist
- Shelby A. Laxson (1913–1982), American politician
- Shelby Linville (1929–2008), American basketball player
- Shelby Metcalf (1930–2007), American basketball coach
- Shelby Miller (born 1990), American baseball pitcher
- Shelby Robertson (fl. 1993), American comics artist
- Shelby Singleton (1931–2009), American record producer and record label owner
- Shelby Steele (born 1946), American author, columnist, documentary film maker and academic
- Shelby G. Tilford (1937–2022), American scientist
- Shelby Tucker (born 1935), American lawyer and journalist
- Shelby Westbrook (1922–2016), American aviator and Tuskegee Airman
- Shelby Whitfield (1935–2013), American sportscaster
- Shelby Wilson (born 1937), American wrestler and 1960 Olympic gold medalist
Women
- Shelby Babcock (born 1992), American softball player
- Shelby Bach (born 1986), American children's writer
- Shelby Chong (born 1948), American comedian, actress, and producer
- Shelby Ivey Christie, American fashion and costume historian
- Shelby Coleman (born 1992), American fashion model
- Shelby Dressel (born 1990), American singer-songwriter
- Shelby Earl (born 1976), American singer-songwriter
- Shelby Fero (born 1993), American comedian and screenwriter
- Shelby Flint (born 1939), American singer-songwriter
- Shelby Grant (1936–2011), American actress born Brenda Thompson
- Shelby Hearon (1931–2016), American writer
- Shelby Hogan (born 1998), American soccer goalkeeper
- Shelby Holliday (fl. 2008), American television journalist
- Shelby Houlihan (born 1993), American runner
- Shelby Hughes (1981–2014), American artist and designer
- Shelby Jensen (born 2001), American wheelchair fencer
- Shelby Johnson, known as Shelby J. (born 1972), American singer-songwriter
- Shelby Kisiel (born 1994), American rhythmic gymnast
- Shelby F. Lewis, American political scientist and scholar
- Shelby Lindley (born 1986), American voice actress
- Shelby Lynne (born 1968), American singer-songwriter
- Shelby Lyons (born 1981), American retired figure skater
- Shelby Pierson (fl. mid-1990s), American intelligence official
- Shelby Rabara (born 1983), American actress and dancer
- Shelby Rogers (born 1992), American tennis player
- Shelby Sherritt, Australian ceramicist
- Shelby Starner (1984–2003), American singer-songwriter and musician
- Shelby Tracy Tom (1963–2003), Canadian female murder victim
- Shelby Walker (1975-2006), American boxer
- Shelby Young (born 1992), American actress
Notes
This page or section lists people that share the same given name.
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