Shirley Boy
Origin(s)
PronunciationSHUR-lee / ˈʃɜrliEnglish; Old French
Meaning
English: bright meadow; Old French: from the bright meadow
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Shirley originated as a surname in England before becoming popular as a given name. It was derived from a place name in Surrey, England, meaning 'bright meadow'. The name gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly after the publication of Charlotte Brontë's novel 'Shirley' in 1849. Although traditionally used for girls, it has been used for boys as well, albeit less commonly.
Trend Summary
Shirley has seen a significant decline in popularity as a boy's name since the mid-20th century.
Similar Names
Variants
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International Variants
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Famous people named Shirley
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Fictional characters named Shirley
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Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Shirley was first seen in the United States in 1880. Shirley has ranked as high as #487 nationally, which occurred in 1935, and has been most popular in Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Texas. In the past 5 years the name Shirley has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Shirley (1967)
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| LA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 10 |
| 1881 | 7 |
| 1882 | 11 |
| 1883 | 13 |
| 1884 | 11 |
| 1885 | 17 |
| 1886 | 17 |
| 1887 | 9 |
| 1888 | 14 |
| 1889 | 13 |
| 1890 | 19 |
| 1891 | 15 |
| 1892 | 15 |
| 1893 | 15 |
| 1894 | 22 |
| 1895 | 28 |
| 1896 | 12 |
| 1897 | 20 |
| 1898 | 15 |
| 1899 | 14 |
| 1900 | 32 |
| 1901 | 10 |
| 1902 | 22 |
| 1903 | 17 |
| 1904 | 24 |
| 1905 | 16 |
| 1906 | 23 |
| 1907 | 17 |
| 1908 | 22 |
| 1909 | 33 |
| 1910 | 24 |
| 1911 | 35 |
| 1912 | 66 |
| 1913 | 113 |
| 1914 | 141 |
| 1915 | 171 |
| 1916 | 155 |
| 1917 | 172 |
| 1918 | 182 |
| 1919 | 197 |
| 1920 | 196 |
| 1921 | 227 |
| 1922 | 229 |
| 1923 | 231 |
| 1924 | 226 |
| 1925 | 223 |
| 1926 | 214 |
| 1927 | 242 |
| 1928 | 249 |
| 1929 | 263 |
| 1930 | 273 |
| 1931 | 239 |
| 1932 | 242 |
| 1933 | 213 |
| 1934 | 288 |
| 1935 | 435 |
| 1936 | 381 |
| 1937 | 337 |
| 1938 | 265 |
| 1939 | 238 |
| 1940 | 214 |
| 1941 | 174 |
| 1942 | 205 |
| 1943 | 186 |
| 1944 | 128 |
| 1945 | 143 |
| 1946 | 145 |
| 1947 | 124 |
| 1948 | 71 |
| 1949 | 83 |
| 1950 | 82 |
| 1951 | 78 |
| 1952 | 67 |
| 1953 | 68 |
| 1954 | 66 |
| 1955 | 51 |
| 1956 | 54 |
| 1957 | 62 |
| 1958 | 53 |
| 1959 | 41 |
| 1960 | 47 |
| 1961 | 36 |
| 1962 | 36 |
| 1963 | 27 |
| 1964 | 27 |
| 1965 | 31 |
| 1966 | 36 |
| 1967 | 31 |
| 1968 | 13 |
| 1969 | 25 |
| 1970 | 19 |
| 1971 | 18 |
| 1972 | 13 |
| 1973 | 7 |
| 1974 | 12 |
| 1975 | 6 |
| 1976 | 12 |
| 1978 | 9 |
| 1979 | 7 |
| 1980 | 8 |
| 1982 | 7 |
| 1983 | 10 |
| 1984 | 5 |
| 1985 | 5 |
| 1986 | 5 |
| 1987 | 6 |
| 1988 | 6 |
| 1992 | 5 |
| 1993 | 7 |