Name Shirley
Shirley is a feminine name with English origins. It is considered a ubiquitous name that has remained stable in popularity recently.
Meaning of the name Shirley
Origins and Core Meaning
Shirley, a name of English origin, holds a profound meaning. Its essence captures the radiance of "bright meadow" or "shining meadow". This name evokes the tranquility and beauty of nature, conjuring visions of lush green meadows adorned with wildflowers, bathed in the golden light of the sun.
Detailed Insights on Shirley
Origins
English: From the Old English words "scir" (bright) and "leah" (meadow).
Symbolic Representation
Shirley's association with meadows symbolizes growth, renewal, and abundance. Like wildflowers that thrive in meadows, individuals named Shirley often demonstrate resilience and adaptability. Their spirit flourishes even in challenging times, finding strength and nourishment in their surroundings.
Personality Traits
The name Shirley exudes an aura of warmth and compassion. It evokes a sense of comfort, safety, and belonging. Its gentle cadence conveys a soothing presence, embracing those who bear it with a sense of deep affection.
Key Personality Traits
Personal Meanings of the Name Shirley
Shirley Overview & Analysis
Gender statistics
Shirley is predominantly a girl's name with a strong feminine identity. Among 706,357 people named Shirley, 699,929 are female and 6,428 are male resulting in a 99.09% female distribution. This pronounced gender imbalance underscores the name Shirley's strong feminine identity.
Data Explanation
This data is sourced from actual birth records, ensuring that the statistics provided are accurate reflections of real naming trends. The percentage has been rounded up for easier readability, but the underlying figures are grounded in factual data, not estimates. This ensures that the information is both reliable and user-friendly, giving a clear and truthful picture of the name Shirley's gender association.
Popularity
Shirley classified as an ubiquitous name and ranks 87 in the Namedary database. It has remained stable over time, and remained stable recently. The chance of meeting someone named Shirley is nearly 0.2%, or about one in 500+ people.
Based on the latest data from 2021 (316), 2022 (47), 2023 (74), Shirley's year-to-year percentage change in popularity is 57.45%. The name Shirley was most popular in 1935, making up 2.2% of baby names (or about one in 46 babies), and reached its lowest point in 2021 with a usage rate of 0.002%.
Country-Specific Prevalence
| Flag | Country | Rank | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 64 | 0.27% | |
| United States | 83 | 0.21% | |
| Canada | 103 | 0.18% | |
| Australia | 415 | 0.05% | |
| United Kingdom | 1,804 | 0.005% |
People named Shirley are predominantly found in New Zealand (NZ), where it constitutes 0.27% of the total population.
Data Source
The data in this section was gathered from a variety of sources, including:
- United States: Social Security Administration (https://www.ssa.gov/)
- Canada: Government of Ontario (https://data.ontario.ca/). Alberta’s top baby names (https://www.alberta.ca/). B.C.'s Most Popular Baby Names (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/)
- United Kingdom: Office for National Statistics (https://www.ons.gov.uk/)
- Australia: Government of South Australia (https://data.sa.gov.au/). Government of New South Wales (https://www.nsw.gov.au/). Northern Territory Government (https://nt.gov.au/)
- New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (https://www.data.govt.nz/)
- Supplemental Sources: To enrich our data-driven approach, we supplement our primary sources with information from credible websites, academic publications, and expert opinions. This ensures that we provide a well-rounded perspective on baby names.
To enhance readability, percentages are rounded up. Values less than 0.0015% have been omitted.
Additional Information on Shirley
Pronunciation and Phonetics
- Name
- Shirley
- Pronunciation
- Shir-ley
- SHERERLiy
- SHUR-LEE
- shur-lee
- shirley
- IPA Notation
- ʃɚˈli
- Syllable
- Stressed:Shir-ley
- Syllable Count:2 Syllables
Chinese Translation of the Name Shirley
- Translation
- 雪利
- Pronunce
- (PinYin) : xuě lì
- Feng Shui
- 雪Water利Fire
Shirley in Numerology
| S | H | I | R | L | E | Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 5 | 7 | ||||
| 1 | 8 | 9 | 3 |
Applying the rules of numerology (Pythagorean numerology):
Shirley's Soul Number (Heart's Desire Number): Number 3
- You derive satisfaction from your passion for creativity and disrupting limits and conventional ways.
- You desire joy and happiness for yourself and others. You believe that life is meant to be fun, so live it to the fullest.
- You are motivated by people, conversation, laughter, entertainment, and art.
Shirley's Expression Number (Personality Number): Number 3
- You bring joy and laughter to those around you.
- You live happily and are the life of the party.
- You are intelligent, quick-witted, and have a bright appearance.
Shirley's Destiny Number (Life Path Number): Number 6
- You are emotional, domestic, responsible, loyal, and sympathetic.
- You exude a deep well of love and are always willing to help those in need, offering support and care whenever necessary.
- You idealize love and strive to spread it to everyone, everywhere, and beyond.
Famous People Named Shirley
- Shirley Temple Black, American actress, singer, and diplomat
- Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress
- Shirley Jackson, American author known for her horror and suspense novels
- Shirley MacLaine, American actress, dancer, singer, and activist
- Shirley Bassey, Welsh singer known for her powerful voice and signature style
User-Submitted Information about Shirley
Simon200022
Also Portuguese (Brazilian):
Flyn_thuthri
Shirley was originally a male name much like Ashley, Beverly and Shannon. These names were also originally male and have long histories (many generations) of being male names. Down through the ages the trend has been that once parents start giving their daughters male names (like the more recent trend of Palmer, Ezra, Wyatt, Pierce, Sinclair) the names begin to be abandoned by parents naming male children. It takes a relatively short time (maybe 2 generations) before the names are abandoned by males and our minds become attuned to hearing these names as solely and exclusively feminine such as Marion and Leslie. Few people today hear the names Marion and Leslie and think masculine. I understand the name James is being given to girls now. In some cases of course the names just become unisex with varying spellings for boys and girls. I don't see the point myself.
Spear_kyle1
My Christian name is Shirley and it is the only Christain name I have. I was born in 1930 which makes me now 86. I am male and have lived contently with this name for 86 years, which included 7 years in the Royal Navy where I met no problems whatsoever. I was born before Shirley Temple was even thought of and where the name Shirley was not common but a known man's name. When I started work in 1944 there were three men in the organization with the name Shirley. Whilst in the navy the captain of my ship had a second Christain name of Shirley. This may be of interest to some people.
Conclusion
In summary, the name Shirley holds timeless appeal, blending cultural significance with a unique charm. Whether chosen for its meaning or sound, Shirley remains a strong and enduring choice, cherished across generations and cultures.
Jasterwc
In the Hebrew language the name Shirley can mean two things. 1. Sing to me. 2. A song for me.
Mummy_dance
There is also a Hebrew name Shirley (or Shir-Li: שירלי) which means my song. [noted -ed]
Ragebork2372
My grandma's first name is Shirley and her middle name is Laverne but she was born in 1939. That's crazy huh? She's the sweetest, smartest woman ever, and so strong and beautiful.