[Opinions] Re: Shirley
in reply to a message by New_Chloe
At first I think - of course it has hipster appeal, it's an obvious unisex surname name ending in ley.
It's maybe just the first Hollywood megahit in a long line leading to Ashley, Piper, Reese, etc.
I'm sure it sounded as "too rough and masculine" to many people in 1920, as Mackenzie did to many people in 1995.
But later, it just seems like an antiquated all-girl-name and we think of images of Shirley Temple (always as a child of course) and we've got lifetimes of meeting women named with SH-RL- names and surnames. I totally see what you mean about how Shirley could seem cool.
If I were going for the optimal antique Shirley image, I'd go full on and name her Shirley Jean.
If I were naming an actual daughter and had to use Shirley as her first name: how about Shirley Emerald or Shirley Valentina. Shirley Andromeda even.
If it could be a middle name: maybe Magdalena ("Maggie") Shirley or Jacqueline ("Jackie") Shirley
- mirfak
It's maybe just the first Hollywood megahit in a long line leading to Ashley, Piper, Reese, etc.
I'm sure it sounded as "too rough and masculine" to many people in 1920, as Mackenzie did to many people in 1995.
But later, it just seems like an antiquated all-girl-name and we think of images of Shirley Temple (always as a child of course) and we've got lifetimes of meeting women named with SH-RL- names and surnames. I totally see what you mean about how Shirley could seem cool.
If I were going for the optimal antique Shirley image, I'd go full on and name her Shirley Jean.
If I were naming an actual daughter and had to use Shirley as her first name: how about Shirley Emerald or Shirley Valentina. Shirley Andromeda even.
If it could be a middle name: maybe Magdalena ("Maggie") Shirley or Jacqueline ("Jackie") Shirley
- mirfak
This message was edited 2/22/2021, 12:09 PM