Shirly: 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	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	22	15	37	4	–	#2,811
1920s	92	6	98	10	+165%	#2,172
1930s	193	6	199	20	+103%	#1,316
1940s	214	–	214	21	+8%	#1,700
1950s	168	–	168	17	-21%	#2,241
1960s	130	–	130	13	-23%	#2,659
1970s	55	–	55	6	-58%	#5,415
1980s	35	–	35	4	-36%	#9,068
1990s	46	–	46	5	+31%	#9,696
2000s	70	–	70	7	+52%	#6,111
2010s	17	–	17	2	-76%	#14,761
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#2,811

1920s

+165%

#2,172

1930s

193

199

+103%

#1,316

1940s

214

–

214

+8%

#1,700

1950s

168

–

168

-21%

#2,241

1960s

130

–

130

-23%

#2,659

1970s

–

-58%

#5,415

1980s

–

-36%

#9,068

1990s

–

+31%

#9,696

2000s

–

+52%

#6,111

2010s

–

-76%

#14,761

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Shirly

Shirly 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 1911, 1,069 American babies have been named Shirly. Its peak came in 1936, when 37 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1930s.

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 Shirly stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Shirly?

The median living Shirly is about 66 years old; half are between 48 and 78. An estimated 700 people named Shirly 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.

Shirly 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	5	#18,491	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	7	#14,761	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	5	#19,436	–	–
2009	5	#19,786	–	–
2008	23	#6,111	–	–
2007	8	#13,755	–	–
2006	7	#14,923	–	–
2005	7	#14,294	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	5	#18,015	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	9	#10,898	–	–
2000	6	#14,755	–	–
1995	7	#11,619	–	–
1990	–	–	–	–
1985	–	–	–	–
1980	5	#11,879	–	–
1975	10	#5,912	–	–
1970	8	#6,276	–	–
1965	13	#3,711	–	–
1960	18	#2,975	–	–
1955	20	#2,540	–	–
1950	20	#2,241	–	–
1945	19	#1,983	–	–
1940	22	#1,738	–	–
1935	27	#1,440	–	–
1930	10	#3,027	–	–
1925	10	#3,332	–	–
1920	7	#4,336	6	#4,213
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Shirly?

The median living Shirly is about 66 years old. Half of all living Shirlys are between 48 and 78 years old.

How many people named Shirly are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Shirly are alive in the United States, based on 1,069 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Shirly in 2025?

Shirly 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 Shirly?

1,069 babies have been named Shirly in the United States since 1911, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Shirly most popular?

Shirly peaked in 1936, when 37 newborns received the name.

Is Shirly a boy or girl name?

Shirly is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 97% of babies with the name.

Is the name Shirly rising or falling?

Shirly has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Shirly

Shirly popularity over time

The story of Shirly

How old are people named Shirly?

Shirly year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Shirly