Pronunciation: [ʃˈɛliə] (IPA) 
The spelling of the name "Shelia" is influenced by the English language's inconsistent pronunciation rules. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is spelled /ʃɪliə/. The "sh" sound is represented by the /ʃ/ symbol, the "i" sound is represented by /ɪ/ and the "a" sound is represented by the /ə/ symbol. The final "a" may be pronounced as either a schwa (/ə/) or as an "uh" sound (/ʌ/) depending on regional variations.
Shelia is a female given name that originated in Australia, primarily during the 20th century. It is an anglicized variant of the Irish name Síle, which is derived from the Latin name Caelia. Shelia is a relatively less common variant compared to its more widely recognized form, Sheila.
In terms of etymology, the name Shelia carries the meaning of "blind" or "understanding." The name is often associated with characteristics such as wisdom, compassion, and empathy. Shelia is believed to reflect femininity, grace, and elegance, and is commonly associated with people who possess a warm and caring nature.
Outside of its proper noun usage as a given name, "Shelia" also has a popular cultural association in Australian slang. In this context, the term "Shelia" is used colloquially to refer to a woman or girl. It is similar to the words "woman" or "gal" in the English language, but with an Australian twist. This slang usage of "Shelia" is often attributed to the Australian Outback culture and the influence of the Australian vernacular in everyday conversation.
Overall, the name Shelia encompasses both personal and cultural meanings, highlighting attributes of compassion, femininity, and understanding. Whether as a given name or in colloquial terms, Shelia carries a positive connotation.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The etymology of the word "Shelia" can be traced back to Australia, where it originated. It is believed to be a term that emerged in the 1960s as Australian slang, particularly in the working-class areas of Sydney. While its exact origin is uncertain, it is thought to be derived from the Irish name Síle, which is an Irish form of the name Julia or Cecilia. The term "Shelia" initially referred to an Australian woman or girl, but it later evolved to become a more generalized term for any woman. It gained popularity through its usage in Australian literature and became synonymous with an Australian woman in the English language.
