Shirlean: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	23	2	–	#2,915
1940s	92	9	+300%	#2,401
1950s	116	12	+26%	#2,747
1960s	92	9	-21%	#2,715
1970s	13	1	-86%	#6,518
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

#2,915

1940s

+300%

#2,401

1950s

116

+26%

#2,747

1960s

-21%

#2,715

1970s

-86%

#6,518

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Shirlean

Shirlean 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 1937, 336 American babies have been named Shirlean. Its peak came in 1960, when 21 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 Shirlean stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shirlean?

The median living Shirlean is about 68 years old; half are between 63 and 76. An estimated 300 people named Shirlean are alive in the United States today.

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

Shirlean year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls 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	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	5	#9,118
1965	7	#5,733
1960	21	#2,715
1955	8	#4,684
1950	15	#2,763
1945	13	#2,580
1940	12	#2,559
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Shirlean?

The median living Shirlean is about 68 years old. Half of all living Shirleans are between 63 and 76 years old.

How many people named Shirlean are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Shirlean are alive in the United States, based on 336 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Shirlean in 2025?

Shirlean 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 Shirlean?

336 babies have been named Shirlean in the United States since 1937, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shirlean most popular?

Shirlean peaked in 1960, when 21 newborns received the name.

Is Shirlean a boy or girl name?

Shirlean is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Shirlean rising or falling?

Shirlean has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Shirlean

Shirlean popularity over time

The story of Shirlean

How old are people named Shirlean?

Shirlean year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Shirlean