Shirley
English · Girl · 2 syllables
Popularity & facts
Relative popularity index, 2010–2025Popularity over time
Popularity indexHistorical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data
About the name Shirley
The name 'Shirley' means "bright meadow" or "clearing on a bright hill," originating from the Old English elements *scīr* (bright) and *lēah* (wood, clearing).
Cross-referenced with Behind the Name and Wikidata/Wikipedia. AI-assisted, community-reviewable. Suggest an improvement.
Etymology
The name 'Shirley' means "bright meadow" or "clearing on a bright hill," originating from the Old English elements *scīr* (bright) and *lēah* (wood, clearing). It is primarily used in English-speaking cultures, notably popularized as a feminine name in the 19th century after Charlotte Brontë's novel *Shirley* (1849), and has no specific religious association.
Shirley currently ranks #1,586 in the United States as a girl's name. It reached its peak popularity around 1935.
Variants & nicknames
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Sibling name ideas
English names that sit beautifully beside ShirleySimilar names you might like
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- Safia
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