Shirley

“Shire meadow, clearing of the county” — Old English origin

Girl's name · #1586 in the US (2025) · Heirloom

Shirley belongs to an older America first — it reached #2 back in 1935 — yet it still appears in today's records at #1586. About 686,000 girls have carried it since 1880. Shirl is a short form of Shirley.

Around the world: about 1 in 16,000 girls in Canada (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 12 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Shirleys

Shirley MacLaine — American actress
Shirley Temple — American actress and diplomat (1928–2014)
Shirley Booth — American actress (1898–1992)
Shirley Chisholm — first black woman elected to the United States Congress (1924-2005)
Shirley Bassey — Welsh singer

In stories & tradition

Shirley Bellinger — Oz
Shirley Carter — EastEnders
Shirley Armitage — Coronation Street

What Shirleys become

Among 790 notable people named Shirley:

Entertainers appear 1.48× more often than among typical names — e.g. Shirley MacLaine, American actress.

Similar names: Beverly · Sheila · Karly · Bobbie · Carol · Everley

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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