Sherley Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SHUR-lee //ˈʃɜrli//
Origin: English; French
Meaning: English: meadow; French: from the clearing
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Sherley has its roots in Old English, deriving from the elements "scir," meaning "bright" or "clear," and "leah," which translates to "woodland" or "clearing." This etymological composition suggests a meaning akin to "bright clearing" or "bright wood." The name appears in various forms throughout history, including the variant "Shirley," which became more prominent in the medieval period. The transition into English was facilitated through the Norman influence following the Conquest of 1066, which introduced many Old French names and forms into the English language.
Historically, the name Sherley, along with its variants, has been associated with notable figures. One significant milestone is the use of the name in the 16th century, particularly through the literary works of the time.
The name Shirley was notably borne by the English poet and playwright James Shirley, who was active during the early 17th century. His contributions to the theatrical landscape of the period helped to solidify the name's presence in English literature.
Additionally, the name appears in various historical records and documents, indicating its usage among the gentry and nobility in England. Culturally, names like Sherley have often been linked to themes of nature and brightness, reflecting the pastoral and idyllic imagery prevalent in English literature and art.
The name has also been associated with various traditions and customs, particularly in rural communities where names often reflected the natural landscape. The diminutive form "Shirley" has also been used historically, further enriching the name's legacy.
Overall, Sherley embodies a blend of linguistic heritage and cultural significance that has allowed it to endure through the centuries.
Famous people named Sherley
In this section, you will find notable people named Sherley. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Sherley who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Sherley who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Sherley Anne Williams is a poet and novelist best known for Some One Sweet Angel Chile, The Peacock Poems, and Dessa Rose.
Sherley H. McCoy is a scientist best known for her work in the field of microbiology and her contributions to the study of infectious diseases.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Sherley, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Sherley. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Sherley was first seen in the United States in 1910.
Sherley has ranked as high as #2126 nationally, which occurred in 1936, and has been most popular in New York, Florida, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Arkansas.
In the past 5 years the name Sherley has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Sherley is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Sherley was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Sherley (2011)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Sherley.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2017 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2011 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 2010 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2009 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 2008 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 2007 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 2006 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 2005 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 2004 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| 2003 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 2002 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2001 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 2000 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1999 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1998 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1997 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1996 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1995 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1994 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1993 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1992 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1991 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1990 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1989 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1988 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1987 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1986 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1985 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1984 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1983 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1982 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1981 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1980 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1979 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1977 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1976 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1974 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1973 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1972 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1971 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1970 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1969 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1968 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1967 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1966 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1965 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1964 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1963 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1962 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1961 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1960 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1959 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1958 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1957 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1956 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1955 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1954 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1953 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1952 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1951 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1950 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 1949 | 20 | 5 | 15 |
| 1948 | 26 | 5 | 21 |
| 1947 | 30 | 0 | 30 |
| 1946 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1945 | 20 | 0 | 20 |
| 1944 | 22 | 7 | 15 |
| 1943 | 25 | 0 | 25 |
| 1942 | 25 | 7 | 18 |
| 1941 | 32 | 6 | 26 |
| 1940 | 22 | 6 | 16 |
| 1939 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1938 | 22 | 10 | 12 |
| 1937 | 35 | 11 | 24 |
| 1936 | 37 | 17 | 20 |
| 1935 | 28 | 10 | 18 |
| 1934 | 34 | 10 | 24 |
| 1933 | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| 1932 | 13 | 6 | 7 |
| 1931 | 20 | 10 | 10 |
| 1930 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1929 | 21 | 9 | 12 |
| 1928 | 21 | 7 | 14 |
| 1927 | 20 | 10 | 10 |
| 1926 | 23 | 8 | 15 |
| 1925 | 21 | 9 | 12 |
| 1924 | 15 | 6 | 9 |
| 1923 | 20 | 9 | 11 |
| 1922 | 22 | 13 | 9 |
| 1921 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| 1920 | 21 | 15 | 6 |
| 1919 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| 1918 | 28 | 15 | 13 |
| 1917 | 17 | 11 | 6 |
| 1916 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| 1915 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1914 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1910 | 5 | 0 | 5 |