The nonlinear analysis of laminated initially imperfect non-circular cylindrical shells is presented. The analytical model is based on Donnell’s nonlinear kinematic relations. The equations are derived via the Hu-Washizu mixed formulation, and are expressed in terms of the transverse displacement and the Airy stress function. Results for both isotropic and laminated, axially loaded oval and elliptic shells are presented. The non-circular configurations are found to be less imperfection sensitive than the circular ones, and for largely eccentric cross-sections the shells are insensitive to initial imperfections.