Shirley

#1,581 for girls in 2025, 133 births · Last seen for boys in 1993 at #6,816
Given to girls 98.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1935 · 42,366 births
Debut · girls
8 births
In top 100 · girls
46 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
686,383
since 1880

Shirley over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201930peak #2, 1935girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#1,581133—
2024#1,452151—
2023#1,534139—
2022#1,583134—
2021#1,885105—
2020#1,545137—
2019#1,483148—
2018#1,447152—
2017#1,274185—
2016#1,386168—
2015#1,311181—
2014#1,205202—
2013#1,338174—
2012#1,334176—
2011#1,266188—
2010#1,317178—
2009#1,091233—
2008#905304—
2007#937288—
2006#1,026249—
2005#885285—
2004#987240—
2003#788313—
2002#878259—
2001#778305—
2000#850259—
1999#914231—
1998#742293—
1997#660333—
1996#654339—
1995#634343—
1994#593380—
1993#579406#6,8167
1992#530449#8,4355
1991#521446—
1990#509472—
1989#512457—
1988#491462#6,4266
1987#473459#6,0896
1986#491435#6,7215
1985#441494#6,5235
1984#438477#6,3155
1983#428505#3,88410
1982#384601#5,0037
1981#390579—
1980#380603#4,4958
1979#346671#4,8427
1978#336647#3,8579
1977#307777—
1976#277834#3,09512
1975#278875#4,7976
1974#2541,010#2,94612
1973#2171,155#4,0547
1972#2091,334#2,65913
1971#1931,588#2,20318
1970#1981,629#2,05819
1969#1731,867#1,64225
1968#1502,142#2,31113
1967#1422,508#1,36431
1966#1232,919#1,25936
1965#1113,370#1,38631
1964#1033,967#1,51027
1963#994,387#1,51327
1962#964,869#1,29536
1961#855,638#1,30337
1960#706,411#1,15246
1959#617,284#1,21241
1958#528,088#1,04953
1957#468,855#96662
1956#419,429#1,01954
1955#379,755#1,05451
1954#3310,909#90866
1953#2912,148#86868
1952#2812,529#85067
1951#2713,919#79978
1950#1915,891#75882
1949#1817,281#75483
1948#2016,121#80271
1947#1917,648#611124
1946#1817,870#534145
1945#1416,150#500143
1944#1516,309#537128
1943#1217,816#462186
1942#1217,750#427205
1941#1016,954#446174
1940#917,881#389214
1939#520,447#368238
1938#523,766#340265
1937#426,823#293337
1936#235,161#277381
1935#242,366#259435
1934#422,841#318288
1933#914,320#372213
1932#914,476#357242
1931#914,405#362239
1930#1114,775#337273
1929#914,576#346263
1928#1014,215#370249
1927#913,314#377242
1926#1411,762#409214
1925#1710,513#402223
1924#199,489#407226
1923#267,918#391231
1922#396,407#398229
1921#445,695#404227
1920#564,713#427196
1919#893,149#418197
1918#972,654#440182
1917#1231,800#432172
1916#1601,245#447155
1915#1621,135#414171
1914#160906#402141
1913#169684#406113
1912#198489#48466
1911#198362#49735
1910#202318#58224
1909#203281#43633
1908#196284#54122
1907#207247#61617
1906#234187#46523
1905#256162#59216
1904#268138#43124
1903#309102#52717
1902#309104#44022
1901#30595#68310
1900#322110#39332
1899#34674#52114
1898#37270#54315
1897#37261#42220
1896#38355#64112
1895#43343#34728
1894#40747#39922
1893#37452#47915
1892#34658#52515
1891#42335#45615
1890#40040#41519
1889#37142#52513
1888#43932#52814
1887#49920#6319
1886#55616#43117
1885#54216#43917
1884#47918#57011
1883#45118#49713
1882#6349#57611
1881—#7067
1880#6288#60010
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Shirley was already there! It came in at #628, and was given to 8 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1881, when fewer than 5 girls a year got the name.

Where Shirley is popular in 1930

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Shirley, so not publishedAKMaine: #9 for girls · 108 births · 1 in 60 girlsMEVermont: #3 for girls · 78 births · 1 in 33 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #14 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 59 girlsNHWashington: #3 for girls · 316 births · 1 in 30 girlsWAIdaho: #5 for girls · 93 births · 1 in 37 girlsIDMontana: #5 for girls · 117 births · 1 in 32 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #13 for girls · 97 births · 1 in 61 girlsNDMinnesota: #5 for girls · 474 births · 1 in 41 girlsMNIllinois: #8 for girls · 1,234 births · 1 in 46 girlsILWisconsin: #4 for girls · 624 births · 1 in 39 girlsWIMichigan: #6 for girls · 1,113 births · 1 in 38 girlsMINew York: #11 for girls · 1,405 births · 1 in 68 girlsNYMassachusetts: #11 for girls · 517 births · 1 in 61 girlsMARhode Island: #7 for girls · 95 births · 1 in 51 girlsRIOregon: #6 for girls · 154 births · 1 in 34 girlsORNevada: #16 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 38 girlsNVWyoming: #5 for girls · 50 births · 1 in 30 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #6 for girls · 115 births · 1 in 49 girlsSDIowa: #4 for girls · 519 births · 1 in 36 girlsIAIndiana: #16 for girls · 333 births · 1 in 75 girlsINOhio: #11 for girls · 895 births · 1 in 58 girlsOHPennsylvania: #12 for girls · 1,455 births · 1 in 56 girlsPANew Jersey: #24 for girls · 293 births · 1 in 100 girlsNJConnecticut: #5 for girls · 250 births · 1 in 45 girlsCTCalifornia: #6 for girls · 711 births · 1 in 52 girlsCAUtah: #3 for girls · 160 births · 1 in 30 girlsUTColorado: #4 for girls · 237 births · 1 in 35 girlsCONebraska: #4 for girls · 311 births · 1 in 35 girlsNEMissouri: #4 for girls · 592 births · 1 in 47 girlsMOKentucky: #40 for girls · 155 births · 1 in 176 girlsKYWest Virginia: #48 for girls · 83 births · 1 in 221 girlsWVVirginia: #18 for girls · 248 births · 1 in 97 girlsVAMaryland: #7 for girls · 280 births · 1 in 45 girlsMDDelaware: #37 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 139 girlsDEArizona: #26 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 141 girlsAZNew Mexico: #93 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 326 girlsNMKansas: #11 for girls · 223 births · 1 in 63 girlsKSArkansas: #74 for girls · 63 births · 1 in 301 girlsARTennessee: #56 for girls · 107 births · 1 in 251 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #68 for girls · 130 births · 1 in 273 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #145 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 708 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #14 for girls · 58 births · 1 in 59 girlsDCOklahoma: #32 for girls · 132 births · 1 in 180 girlsOKLouisiana: #8 for girls · 272 births · 1 in 78 girlsLAMississippi: #92 for girls · 63 births · 1 in 351 girlsMSAlabama: #144 for girls · 48 births · 1 in 624 girlsALGeorgia: #100 for girls · 77 births · 1 in 394 girlsGAHawaii: #33 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 119 girlsHITexas: #54 for girls · 218 births · 1 in 273 girlsTXFlorida: #26 for girls · 96 births · 1 in 126 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Utah#3 · 1 in 30
  2. Washington#3 · 1 in 30
  3. Vermont#3 · 1 in 33
  4. Nebraska#4 · 1 in 35
  5. Colorado#4 · 1 in 35

Best ever in a state: #1 in Idaho, 1934.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Utah#31601 in 30
Vermont#3781 in 33
Washington#33161 in 30
Colorado#42371 in 35
Iowa#45191 in 36
Missouri#45921 in 47
Nebraska#43111 in 35
Wisconsin#46241 in 39
Connecticut#52501 in 45
Idaho#5931 in 37
Minnesota#54741 in 41
Montana#51171 in 32
Wyoming#5501 in 30
California#67111 in 52
Michigan#61,1131 in 38
Oregon#61541 in 34
South Dakota#61151 in 49
Maryland#72801 in 45
Rhode Island#7951 in 51
Illinois#81,2341 in 46
Louisiana#82721 in 78
Maine#91081 in 60
Kansas#112231 in 63
Massachusetts#115171 in 61
New York#111,4051 in 68
Ohio#118951 in 58
Pennsylvania#121,4551 in 56
North Dakota#13971 in 61
District of Columbia#14581 in 59
New Hampshire#14531 in 59
Indiana#163331 in 75
Nevada#1681 in 38
Virginia#182481 in 97
New Jersey#242931 in 100
Arizona#26311 in 141
Florida#26961 in 126
Oklahoma#321321 in 180
Hawaii#33291 in 119
Delaware#37111 in 139
Kentucky#401551 in 176
West Virginia#48831 in 221
Texas#542181 in 273
Tennessee#561071 in 251
North Carolina#681301 in 273
Arkansas#74631 in 301
Mississippi#92631 in 351
New Mexico#93141 in 326
Georgia#100771 in 394
Alabama#144481 in 624
South Carolina#145281 in 708
Alaska———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Shirley
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 129 spots since 2024 (#1,452 → #1,581)
  • 36 spots since 2020 (#1,545 → #1,581)
  • 270 spots since 2015 (#1,311 → #1,581)
  • Biggest jump: 183 spots in 1883 (#634 → #451)
  • Biggest drop: 199 spots in 2004 (#788 → #987)
Rise & fade · girls
55 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1935 at #2 (42,366 births)
  • Births halved by 1939, 4 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 10 for 14 yrs
  • Top 10: 14 yrs · run 1931–1941
  • Top 100: 46 yrs · run 1918–1963
  • Top 1,000: 127 yrs · run 1882–2005
Share of babies · girls
1 in 25
  • Highest: 1 in 25 girls born in 1935 were named Shirley (4.0%)
  • Latest: 1 in 12,085 girls born in 2025 (0.01%)
Era · girls
The 1930s
  • 33.4% of all girls named Shirley (229,380) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s179#371 (1889)#511
1890s535#346 (1899)#386
1900s1,710#196 (1908)#261
1910s12,742#89 (1919)#156
1920s98,602#9 (1929)#24
1930s229,380#2 (1935)#6
1940s171,780#9 (1940)#15
1950s108,807#19 (1950)#37
1960s38,078#70 (1960)#115
1970s10,520#193 (1971)#262
1980s5,072#380 (1980)#443
1990s3,692#509 (1990)#634
2000s2,735#778 (2001)#913
2010s1,752#1,205 (2014)#1,336
2020s799#1,452 (2024)#1,597

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Shirley in 1930

girls
#11
14,775 births · 1 in 76 girls
boys
#337
273 births · 1 in 4,020 boys

Top girls' names in 1930

  1. #1Mary64,153
  2. #2Betty38,240
  3. #3Dorothy30,411
  4. #4Helen19,913
  5. #5Margaret18,350
  6. #6Barbara18,279
  7. #7Patricia15,751
  8. #8Joan15,478
  9. #9Doris15,464
  10. #10Ruth14,942
  11. #11Shirley14,775

Top boys' names in 1930

  1. #1Robert62,153
  2. #2James53,957
  3. #3John52,447
  4. #4William47,271
  5. #5Richard32,187
  6. #6Charles31,867
  7. #7Donald29,052
  8. #8George22,788
  9. #9Joseph20,981
  10. #10Edward17,352
  11. #337Shirley273
More about 1930

girls

1,125,927 girls got a published name in 1930; 1 in 76 of them was named Shirley, which outranked 99.8% of the 5,247 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shirley
  1. #8Joan15,478
  2. #9Doris15,464
  3. #10Ruth14,942
  4. #11Shirley14,775
  5. #12Virginia13,197
  6. #13Dolores12,842
  7. #14Jean11,986
Biggest movers since 1929
Risers
  1. ↑ 701Claudette#1,642 → #941
  2. ↑ 583Ardeth#1,212 → #629
  3. ↑ 445Julianne#1,339 → #894
  4. ↑ 376Sonja#1,223 → #847
  5. ↑ 374Armida#1,174 → #800
Fallers
  1. ↓ 348Ingrid#941 → #1,289
  2. ↓ 315Coralie#895 → #1,210
  3. ↓ 229Elenor#981 → #1,210
  4. ↓ 229Mammie#981 → #1,210
  5. ↓ 226Sibyl#902 → #1,128

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,097,378 boys got a published name in 1930; 1 in 4,020 of them was named Shirley, which outranked 92.6% of the 4,542 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.7% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Shirley
  1. #334Marcus277
  2. #335Sanford275
  3. #336Carmen274
  4. #337Shirley273
  5. #337Adam273
  6. #339Randolph271
  7. #340Alfredo268
  8. #340Alonzo268

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1929
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,094Derl#3,959 → #865
  2. ↑ 420Clive#1,378 → #958
  3. ↑ 380Farris#1,272 → #892
  4. ↑ 368Earlie#1,296 → #928
  5. ↑ 357Winton#1,272 → #915
Fallers
  1. ↓ 486Americo#729 → #1,215
  2. ↓ 433Enrico#995 → #1,428
  3. ↓ 371Eliseo#844 → #1,215
  4. ↓ 312Meyer#878 → #1,190
  5. ↓ 304Hilbert#869 → #1,173

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1930 →