Shirley

#1,581 for girls in 2025, 133 births · Last seen for boys in 1993 at #6,816
Given to girls 98.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1935 · 42,366 births
Debut · girls
8 births
In top 100 · girls
46 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
686,383
since 1880

Shirley over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201982peak #2, 1935girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#1,581133
2024#1,452151
2023#1,534139
2022#1,583134
2021#1,885105
2020#1,545137
2019#1,483148
2018#1,447152
2017#1,274185
2016#1,386168
2015#1,311181
2014#1,205202
2013#1,338174
2012#1,334176
2011#1,266188
2010#1,317178
2009#1,091233
2008#905304
2007#937288
2006#1,026249
2005#885285
2004#987240
2003#788313
2002#878259
2001#778305
2000#850259
1999#914231
1998#742293
1997#660333
1996#654339
1995#634343
1994#593380
1993#579406#6,8167
1992#530449#8,4355
1991#521446
1990#509472
1989#512457
1988#491462#6,4266
1987#473459#6,0896
1986#491435#6,7215
1985#441494#6,5235
1984#438477#6,3155
1983#428505#3,88410
1982#384601#5,0037
1981#390579
1980#380603#4,4958
1979#346671#4,8427
1978#336647#3,8579
1977#307777
1976#277834#3,09512
1975#278875#4,7976
1974#2541,010#2,94612
1973#2171,155#4,0547
1972#2091,334#2,65913
1971#1931,588#2,20318
1970#1981,629#2,05819
1969#1731,867#1,64225
1968#1502,142#2,31113
1967#1422,508#1,36431
1966#1232,919#1,25936
1965#1113,370#1,38631
1964#1033,967#1,51027
1963#994,387#1,51327
1962#964,869#1,29536
1961#855,638#1,30337
1960#706,411#1,15246
1959#617,284#1,21241
1958#528,088#1,04953
1957#468,855#96662
1956#419,429#1,01954
1955#379,755#1,05451
1954#3310,909#90866
1953#2912,148#86868
1952#2812,529#85067
1951#2713,919#79978
1950#1915,891#75882
1949#1817,281#75483
1948#2016,121#80271
1947#1917,648#611124
1946#1817,870#534145
1945#1416,150#500143
1944#1516,309#537128
1943#1217,816#462186
1942#1217,750#427205
1941#1016,954#446174
1940#917,881#389214
1939#520,447#368238
1938#523,766#340265
1937#426,823#293337
1936#235,161#277381
1935#242,366#259435
1934#422,841#318288
1933#914,320#372213
1932#914,476#357242
1931#914,405#362239
1930#1114,775#337273
1929#914,576#346263
1928#1014,215#370249
1927#913,314#377242
1926#1411,762#409214
1925#1710,513#402223
1924#199,489#407226
1923#267,918#391231
1922#396,407#398229
1921#445,695#404227
1920#564,713#427196
1919#893,149#418197
1918#972,654#440182
1917#1231,800#432172
1916#1601,245#447155
1915#1621,135#414171
1914#160906#402141
1913#169684#406113
1912#198489#48466
1911#198362#49735
1910#202318#58224
1909#203281#43633
1908#196284#54122
1907#207247#61617
1906#234187#46523
1905#256162#59216
1904#268138#43124
1903#309102#52717
1902#309104#44022
1901#30595#68310
1900#322110#39332
1899#34674#52114
1898#37270#54315
1897#37261#42220
1896#38355#64112
1895#43343#34728
1894#40747#39922
1893#37452#47915
1892#34658#52515
1891#42335#45615
1890#40040#41519
1889#37142#52513
1888#43932#52814
1887#49920#6319
1886#55616#43117
1885#54216#43917
1884#47918#57011
1883#45118#49713
1882#6349#57611
1881#7067
1880#6288#60010
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Shirley was already there! It came in at #628, and was given to 8 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1881, when fewer than 5 girls a year got the name.

Where Shirley is popular in 1982

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedNHWashington: #545 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,931 girlsWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedMNIllinois: #372 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 2,481 girlsILWisconsin: #567 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 6,284 girlsWIMichigan: #357 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 2,743 girlsMINew York: #193 for girls · 88 births · 1 in 1,168 girlsNYMassachusetts: #353 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,714 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedRIOregon: #465 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,268 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedIAIndiana: #294 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 2,069 girlsINOhio: #397 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 3,249 girlsOHPennsylvania: #381 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 3,039 girlsPANew Jersey: #220 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 1,367 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #384 for girls · 79 births · 1 in 2,351 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedNEMissouri: #459 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 4,023 girlsMOKentucky: #238 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,484 girlsKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedWVVirginia: #420 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,422 girlsVAMaryland: #309 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,026 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedDEArizona: #506 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,361 girlsAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedKSArkansas: #335 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 2,127 girlsARTennessee: #310 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,158 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #320 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 2,137 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #288 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,626 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #357 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,257 girlsOKLouisiana: #296 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 1,667 girlsLAMississippi: #246 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,229 girlsMSAlabama: #403 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,733 girlsALGeorgia: #428 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,906 girlsGAHawaii: #196 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 733 girlsHITexas: #544 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 4,060 girlsTXFlorida: #301 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 1,829 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. New York#193 · 1 in 1,168
  2. Hawaii#196 · 1 in 733
  3. New Jersey#220 · 1 in 1,367
  4. Kentucky#238 · 1 in 1,484
  5. Mississippi#246 · 1 in 1,229

Best ever in a state: #1 in Idaho, 1934.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
New York#193881 in 1,168
Hawaii#19671 in 733
New Jersey#220281 in 1,367
Kentucky#238161 in 1,484
Mississippi#246131 in 1,229
South Carolina#288111 in 1,626
Indiana#294171 in 2,069
Louisiana#296191 in 1,667
Florida#301311 in 1,829
Maryland#309111 in 2,026
Tennessee#310131 in 2,158
North Carolina#320161 in 2,137
Arkansas#33561 in 2,127
Massachusetts#353121 in 2,714
Michigan#357211 in 2,743
Oklahoma#357101 in 2,257
Illinois#372301 in 2,481
Pennsylvania#381231 in 3,039
California#384791 in 2,351
Ohio#397221 in 3,249
Alabama#40381 in 2,733
Virginia#42091 in 3,422
Georgia#428121 in 2,906
Missouri#45981 in 4,023
Oregon#46551 in 3,268
Arizona#50661 in 3,361
Texas#544321 in 4,060
Washington#54571 in 3,931
Wisconsin#56751 in 6,284
Alaska
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Maine
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Dakota
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Utah
Vermont
West Virginia
Wyoming

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Shirley
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 129 spots since 2024 (#1,452#1,581)
  • 36 spots since 2020 (#1,545#1,581)
  • 270 spots since 2015 (#1,311#1,581)
  • Biggest jump: 183 spots in 1883 (#634#451)
  • Biggest drop: 199 spots in 2004 (#788#987)
Rise & fade · girls
55 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1935 at #2 (42,366 births)
  • Births halved by 1939, 4 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 10 for 14 yrs
  • Top 10: 14 yrs · run 1931–1941
  • Top 100: 46 yrs · run 1918–1963
  • Top 1,000: 127 yrs · run 1882–2005
Share of babies · girls
1 in 25
  • Highest: 1 in 25 girls born in 1935 were named Shirley (4.0%)
  • Latest: 1 in 12,085 girls born in 2025 (0.01%)
Era · girls
The 1930s
  • 33.4% of all girls named Shirley (229,380) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s179#371 (1889)#511
1890s535#346 (1899)#386
1900s1,710#196 (1908)#261
1910s12,742#89 (1919)#156
1920s98,602#9 (1929)#24
1930s229,380#2 (1935)#6
1940s171,780#9 (1940)#15
1950s108,807#19 (1950)#37
1960s38,078#70 (1960)#115
1970s10,520#193 (1971)#262
1980s5,072#380 (1980)#443
1990s3,692#509 (1990)#634
2000s2,735#778 (2001)#913
2010s1,752#1,205 (2014)#1,336
2020s799#1,452 (2024)#1,597

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Shirley in 1982

girls
#384
601 births · 1 in 2,818 girls
boys
#5,003
7 births · 1 in 259,207 boys

Top girls' names in 1982

  1. #1Jennifer57,120
  2. #2Jessica45,453
  3. #3Amanda34,214
  4. #4Sarah28,483
  5. #5Melissa25,864
  6. #6Nicole21,706
  7. #7Stephanie20,861
  8. #8Elizabeth20,506
  9. #9Crystal19,099
  10. #10Amy18,799
  11. #384Shirley601

Top boys' names in 1982

  1. #1Michael68,216
  2. #2Christopher59,223
  3. #3Matthew46,045
  4. #4Jason40,628
  5. #5David40,453
  6. #6James38,874
  7. #7Joshua38,004
  8. #8John34,698
  9. #9Robert34,409
  10. #10Daniel32,652
  11. #5,003Shirley7
More about 1982

girls

1,693,325 girls got a published name in 1982; 1 in 2,818 of them was named Shirley, which outranked 96.9% of the 12,332 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shirley
  1. #381Alma603
  2. #381Jean603
  3. #383Maggie602
  4. #384Shirley601
  5. #384Hilary601
  6. #386Celeste598
  7. #386Gabriela598
  8. #388Ryan596

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1981
Risers
  1. 1,715Kaleena#2,375#660
  2. 1,197Kala#1,958#761
  3. 1,094Chelsie#2,028#934
  4. 1,081Tenika#2,028#947
  5. 1,044Falon#1,958#914
Fallers
  1. 538Evita#779#1,317
  2. 517Martine#791#1,308
  3. 473Dusty#720#1,193
  4. 470Regan#991#1,461
  5. 401Windy#998#1,399

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,814,447 boys got a published name in 1982; 1 in 259,207 of them was named Shirley, which outranked 32.1% of the 7,367 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shirley
  1. #4,593Zackariah8
  2. #4,593Zahir8
  3. #4,593Zubair8
  4. #5,003Shirley7
  5. #5,003Aamir7
  6. #5,003Aaren7
  7. #5,003Abdulla7
  8. #5,619Aaran6
  9. #5,619Aashish6
  10. #5,619Abayomi6

Tied with 615 names at #5,003; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1981
Risers
  1. 1,958Colt#2,418#460
  2. 730Eliot#1,695#965
  3. 532Colton#1,334#802
  4. 478Kiel#1,101#623
  5. 416Eugenio#1,411#995
Fallers
  1. 309Marchello#841#1,150
  2. 237Carmen#851#1,088
  3. 234Claudio#976#1,210
  4. 224Irvin#826#1,050
  5. 222Jeramiah#971#1,193

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1982