Shirley
Shirley is a boy'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. Though historically used as a masculine name, it gained immense popularity for females in the early 20th century, particularly following Charlotte Brontë's novel Shirley and the fame of child star Shirley Temple. Male usage of the name in the United States peaked in the early-to-mid 20th century and has since become extremely rare.
Popularity in the United States
9,551 babies in the United States have been named Shirley since 1880. It ranks #1228 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- KY (13.6 %)
- VA (11.4 %)
- WV (9.8 %)
- TN (7.1 %)
- TX (5.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 122 |
| 1890-1900 | 175 |
| 1900-1910 | 216 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,256 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,300 |
| 1930-1940 | 2,911 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,473 |
| 1950-1960 | 622 |
| 1960-1970 | 309 |
| 1970-1980 | 103 |
| 1980-1990 | 52 |
| 1990-2000 | 12 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Famous people named Shirley
- Shirley Povich: journalist, sports columnist
Fun facts
- Charlotte Brontë's 1849 novel Shirley introduced the name for a female character, helping spark its transformation from a male surname to a widely popular female given name.
- Shirley originated as an English habitational surname referring to various places in Derbyshire, Surrey, and West Midlands.