Gender Feminine & Masculine
Usage English
Pronounced Pron. /ˈʃɜɹ.li/(American English) /ˈʃɜː.li/(British English)  [key·simplify]

Meaning & History

From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "bright clearing" in Old English. This is the name of a main character in Charlotte Brontë's semi-autobiographical novel Shirley (1849). Though the name was already popular in the United States, the child actress Shirley Temple (1928-2014) gave it a further boost. By 1935 it was the second most common name for girls.

Related Names

RootShirley (surname)
VariantsShirlee, Sherley
User SubmissionShirley

Popularity

People think this name is

classic   mature   natural   wholesome   refined   simple  

Categories

Entry updated December 1, 2024