Shirlee Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SHUR-lee //ˈʃɜrli//
Origin: English; Hebrew
Meaning: English: meadow; Hebrew: song of joy
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Shirlee is derived from the English name Shirley, which has its roots in Old English. The etymology of Shirley can be traced back to the elements "scir," meaning "bright" or "clear," and "leah," meaning "wood" or "clearing." Thus, the literal meaning of Shirley is "bright clearing" or "bright wood." The name Shirley was originally a surname that became popular as a given name in the 19th century, particularly in England, and it made its way into the English-speaking world through various literary and cultural channels.
One significant milestone in the name's history is its association with the 19th-century English poet and novelist James Shirley, who was active during the early 1600s. His works contributed to the name's recognition, and by the 20th century, Shirley had become widely used as a feminine given name.
The name gained further prominence through its use in literature and popular culture, including notable figures such as actress Shirley Temple, who became a household name in the 1930s. Culturally, the name Shirlee and its variants have been associated with qualities such as brightness and clarity, reflecting the meanings of its roots.
The name has also been embraced in various forms, with diminutives like Shirl being used affectionately. The enduring appeal of Shirlee can be attributed to its melodic sound and the positive connotations associated with its meaning, making it a name that resonates with themes of light and nature.
Famous people named Shirlee
In this section, you will find notable people named Shirlee. 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 Shirlee who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Shirlee 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.
Shirlee Emmons is a vocal coach best known for her work with Broadway performers and her book 'Finding Your Voice'.
Shirlee Smith is an author best known for her novels and contributions to children's literature.
Fictional characters named Shirlee
The following list of fictional characters named Shirlee is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Shirlee is a fictional character from the TV series The Goldbergs. She is a recurring character who serves as a friend and confidante to the main characters, often providing comic relief.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Shirlee, 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 Shirlee. 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 Shirlee was first seen in the United States in 1915.
Shirlee has ranked as high as #635 nationally, which occurred in 1935, and has been most popular in Illinois, California, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Shirlee has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Shirlee 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 Shirlee was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
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 Shirlee.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2008 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2007 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2001 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1996 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1995 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1994 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1992 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1991 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1990 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1989 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1987 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1986 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1985 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1984 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1983 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1982 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1981 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1980 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1979 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1978 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1977 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1976 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1974 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1973 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1972 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1971 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1970 | 24 | 0 | 24 |
| 1969 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1968 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| 1967 | 28 | 0 | 28 |
| 1966 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 1965 | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| 1964 | 43 | 0 | 43 |
| 1963 | 23 | 0 | 23 |
| 1962 | 39 | 0 | 39 |
| 1961 | 45 | 0 | 45 |
| 1960 | 52 | 0 | 52 |
| 1959 | 65 | 0 | 65 |
| 1958 | 72 | 0 | 72 |
| 1957 | 80 | 0 | 80 |
| 1956 | 93 | 0 | 93 |
| 1955 | 64 | 0 | 64 |
| 1954 | 68 | 0 | 68 |
| 1953 | 77 | 0 | 77 |
| 1952 | 73 | 0 | 73 |
| 1951 | 104 | 0 | 104 |
| 1950 | 90 | 0 | 90 |
| 1949 | 104 | 0 | 104 |
| 1948 | 96 | 0 | 96 |
| 1947 | 116 | 0 | 116 |
| 1946 | 113 | 0 | 113 |
| 1945 | 97 | 0 | 97 |
| 1944 | 97 | 0 | 97 |
| 1943 | 119 | 0 | 119 |
| 1942 | 115 | 0 | 115 |
| 1941 | 98 | 0 | 98 |
| 1940 | 94 | 0 | 94 |
| 1939 | 129 | 0 | 129 |
| 1938 | 121 | 0 | 121 |
| 1937 | 155 | 0 | 155 |
| 1936 | 195 | 0 | 195 |
| 1935 | 340 | 0 | 340 |
| 1934 | 209 | 0 | 209 |
| 1933 | 129 | 0 | 129 |
| 1932 | 121 | 0 | 121 |
| 1931 | 139 | 0 | 139 |
| 1930 | 147 | 0 | 147 |
| 1929 | 153 | 5 | 148 |
| 1928 | 172 | 0 | 172 |
| 1927 | 185 | 0 | 185 |
| 1926 | 181 | 0 | 181 |
| 1925 | 183 | 0 | 183 |
| 1924 | 194 | 0 | 194 |
| 1923 | 170 | 0 | 170 |
| 1922 | 115 | 0 | 115 |
| 1921 | 91 | 0 | 91 |
| 1920 | 67 | 0 | 67 |
| 1919 | 43 | 0 | 43 |
| 1918 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| 1917 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1916 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1915 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Top States for Shirlee (1989)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |