Shirley
Shirley is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Bright clearing or bright meadow.
Origin and history
Shirley was originally an English surname derived from a place name meaning 'bright clearing'. It gained immense popularity as a feminine given name in the early 20th century, largely fueled by child star Shirley Temple. Today, it is considered a classic, vintage name in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
686,383 babies in the United States have been named Shirley since 1880. It ranks #37 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1337.
States where it is most popular
- PA (6.6 %)
- NY (6.6 %)
- IL (5.7 %)
- OH (5 %)
- MI (4.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 179 |
| 1890-1900 | 535 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,710 |
| 1910-1920 | 12,742 |
| 1920-1930 | 98,602 |
| 1930-1940 | 229,380 |
| 1940-1950 | 171,780 |
| 1950-1960 | 108,807 |
| 1960-1970 | 38,078 |
| 1970-1980 | 10,520 |
| 1980-1990 | 5,072 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,692 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,735 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,752 |
| 2020-2029 | 799 |
Famous people named Shirley
- Shirley Temple: actress, diplomat
- Shirley Chisholm: politician, author
- Shirley MacLaine: actress, author
Nicknames
Shirl
Fun facts
- Shirley was originally an English surname and a masculine name before Charlotte Brontë's 1849 novel Shirley shifted it toward feminine use.
- The explosive fame of child actress Shirley Temple made it the second most popular girls' name in the U.S. from 1935 to 1936.