Shirlee
Shirlee is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Bright clearing or meadow.
Origin and history
Shirlee is a spelling variant of Shirley, derived from Old English elements meaning bright clearing or meadow. It gained popularity in the early to mid-20th century in the United States alongside similar phonetic variants. Today, it is a rare choice for newborn girls in the U.S.
Popularity in the United States
5,709 babies in the United States have been named Shirlee since 1880. It ranks #2261 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2096.
States where it is most popular
- IL (18.2 %)
- CA (16.3 %)
- MI (8.7 %)
- OH (8.3 %)
- PA (8.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 103 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,506 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,685 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,049 |
| 1950-1960 | 786 |
| 1960-1970 | 332 |
| 1970-1980 | 105 |
| 1980-1990 | 82 |
| 1990-2000 | 41 |
| 2000-2010 | 15 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 5 |
Fun facts
- Shirlee arose as a modern phonetic alternative to the classic English place name Shirley.
- The addition of the double 'e' ending was a common spelling trend in the mid-1900s for feminine names.