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Shirley

Girl's name · #1586 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Popularity over time

Shirley belongs to an older America first — it reached #2 back in 1935 — yet it still appears in today's records at #1586. About 686,000 girls have carried it since 1880.

Across the states

See where Shirley is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 12 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Shirley ranks in other countries and regions.

#221 in Ecuador (2025) · #4,201 in England & Wales (2025) · #6,893 in France (2025) · #2,228 in Sweden (2024) · #2,445 in Canada (2024) · #856 in Ireland (2023) · #21,475 in Italy (2023) · #3,528 in Austria (2019) · #1,383 in Belgium (2016) · #1,045 in Netherlands (2014) · #444 in N. Ireland (2011) · #280 in Puerto Rico (2004) and 4 more.

Famous Shirleys

• Shirley MacLaine — American actress (born 1934)
• Shirley Temple — American actress and diplomat (1928–2014)
• Shirley Booth — American actress (1898–1992)
• Shirley Chisholm — First black woman elected to the United States Congress (1924–2005)
• Shirley Bassey — Welsh singer (born 1937)
• Shirley Jones — American actress and singer (born 1934)
• Shirley Henderson — British actress (born 1965)
• Shirley Jackson — American writer (1916–1965)
• Shirley Manson — Scottish singer (born 1966)
• Shirley Knight — American actress (1936–2020)

In stories & tradition

• Shirley Bellinger — Oz (TV series)
• Shirley Carter — Fictional character from EastEnders
• Shirley Armitage — Fictional character from Coronation Street

What Shirleys become

Among 790 notable people named Shirley:

Entertainers appear 1.48× more often than among typical names — e.g. Shirley MacLaine, American actress (born 1934).

Similar names: Beverly · Shira · Karly · Bobbie · Yvonne · Carol

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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