Baby Names US
Unisex name ★ peaked 1964

Shirl

Meaning A short form of the female given name Shirley Gender Unisex · 75% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists

A short form of the female given name Shirley.

Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Shirl
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1964
216 babies
All-time total
1,771
#6,206 all-time among girls
First recorded
1915
in Social Security records

Shirl popularity over time

1,771 babies have been named Shirl since 1915, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.040.080.110.1518801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – – – –
1890s – – – – – –
1900s – – – – – –
1910s – 33 33 3 – –
1920s – 87 87 9 +164% –
1930s 17 127 144 14 +66% #3,756
1940s 75 121 196 20 +36% #2,722
1950s 288 62 350 35 +79% #1,674
1960s 796 18 814 81 +133% #715
1970s 124 – 124 12 -85% #2,817
1980s 23 – 23 2 -81% #8,054
1990s – – – – – –
2000s – – – – – –
2010s – – – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – – – –

The story of Shirl

Shirl is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1915, 1,771 American babies have been named Shirl, about 75% girls and 25% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1964, when 216 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Shirl stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shirl?

The median living Shirl is about 62 years old; half are between 60 and 68. An estimated 1,300 people named Shirl are alive in the United States today.

median 62 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Shirl year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 – – – –
2022 – – – –
2021 – – – –
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – – –
2017 – – – –
2016 – – – –
2015 – – – –
2014 – – – –
2013 – – – –
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – – –
2007 – – – –
2006 – – – –
2005 – – – –
2004 – – – –
2003 – – – –
2002 – – – –
2001 – – – –
2000 – – – –
1995 – – – –
1990 – – – –
1985 – – – –
1980 8 #8,054 – –
1975 16 #4,104 – –
1970 19 #3,419 – –
1965 91 #1,108 – –
1960 46 #1,670 7 #3,616
1955 21 #2,461 6 #3,831
1950 24 #1,997 7 #3,281
1945 8 #3,642 6 #3,286
1940 – – 11 #2,303
1935 5 #4,811 15 #1,911
1930 – – 7 #3,545
1925 – – 11 #2,727
1920 – – 9 #3,178
1915 – – 11 #2,434
1910 – – – –
1905 – – – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Shirl, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Shirl?

The median living Shirl is about 62 years old. Half of all living Shirls are between 60 and 68 years old.

How many people named Shirl are alive today?

An estimated 1,300 people named Shirl are alive in the United States, based on 1,771 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Shirl mean?

A short form of the female given name Shirley.

How popular is the name Shirl in 2025?

Shirl did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Shirl?

1,771 babies have been named Shirl in the United States since 1915, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shirl most popular?

Shirl peaked in 1964, when 216 newborns received the name.

Is Shirl a boy or girl name?

Shirl is used for both: about 75% of babies named Shirl have been girls and 25% boys.

Is the name Shirl rising or falling?

Shirl has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Shirl

Names that sound and feel close to Shirl: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Shirl with similar names → More names starting with S →