Shirley
Shirley: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈʃɜː(ɹ)li/
Meaning and origin of Shirley
Root meaning: “county”
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
- A female given name transferred from the surname, popular from the 1920s to the 1950s.
Etymology
English place name from Old English sċīr (“county”) + lēah (“meadow”). Equivalent to shire + -ley (“lea”). More at shire, leigh.
How popular is Shirley?
Since 1880, 686,383 girls and 9,551 boys in the U.S. have been named Shirley (99% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #2 in 1935. Its highest rank for boys was #259 in 1935. In 2025, 133 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Shirley
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname girl names
Sibling name ideas for Shirley
Sister and brother names that share Shirley's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Shirley FAQ
What does the name Shirley mean?
Shirley traces back to a root meaning "county". A male given name transferred from the surname. A female given name transferred from the surname, popular from the 1920s to the 1950s. English place name from Old English sċīr (“county”) + lēah (“meadow”). Equivalent to shire + -ley (“lea”). More at shire, leigh.
What is the origin of the name Shirley?
Shirley is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Shirley?
Since 1880, 686,383 girls and 9,551 boys in the U.S. have been named Shirley (99% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #2 in 1935. Its highest rank for boys was #259 in 1935. In 2025, 133 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Shirley a boy or girl name?
Shirley is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 686,383 girls and 9,551 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.