Shirley Name Meaning, Popularity and Origins
Origin:
English
Gender Distribution:
1% Masculine / 99% Feminine
Meaning:
The name Shirley means 'bright wood or clearing' and is associated with intelligence and elegance.
Meaning of the Name Shirley
Shirley is an English name derived from the Old English words 'scire' meaning 'bright' and 'leah' meaning 'wood or clearing'. It was originally a masculine name but gained popularity as a feminine name in the 19th century. Shirley became well-known through the book 'Shirley' by Charlotte Brontë. The name is associated with intelligence, elegance, and a cheerful nature.
Popularity of the Name Shirley
The popularity for the name Shirley peaked in popularity in the year 1935 with 42,359 births, which ranked number 5 out of 8,084 unique names for that year. Shirley had the most female births in 1935 with 42,359, which ranked number 2 out of 4,892 female names for that year, and had the most male births in 1935 with 435, which ranked number 259 out of 4,145 male names for that year. The number of births for the name Shirley has declined sharply over the last ten years from 176 births to 133 births, a decline of -24.43%. Among females, Shirley has declined sharply in popularity over the last ten years from 176 births to 133 births, a decline of -24.43%.
Nationwide Popularity of Shirley
- 20 Year Trend of Shirley: -48.65%
- 10 Year Trend of Shirley: -24.43%
- 10 Year Female Trend of Shirley: -24.43%
Popularity of Shirley by State
Among females, Shirley was most popular in Northeastern states with 29 births in the region. It was most commonly used in CA, with 18 female births. See below for a full state by state breakdown of the name Shirley. States with less than five births recorded will not be shown.
| State | Male Births | Male Gender Rank | Female Births | Female Gender Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | < 5 | N/A | 18 | 1406 |
| MD | < 5 | N/A | 6 | 809 |
| NY | < 5 | N/A | 14 | 1033 |
| OH | < 5 | N/A | 6 | 1240 |
| OK | < 5 | N/A | 5 | 703 |
| PA | < 5 | N/A | 9 | 955 |
| TX | < 5 | N/A | 10 | 2063 |
| VA | < 5 | N/A | 6 | 1063 |
2024 Popularity Projections for Shirley
- Total Births of Shirley: 129 (-2.76%)
- Female Births of Shirley: 129 (-2.76%)
Given the downward trend of Shirley over the last 10 years, we expect this to continue in 2024 with roughly a -2.76% decrease in total births, for a total of 129 births in 2024. For Females, births for Shirley have been decreasing over the past 10 years, and we expect roughly 129 female births in 2024, a decrease of -2.76%.