Shirley: Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance: Name: Shirley – Meaning: shire/county meadow – Origin: Old English (place name/surname) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: SHER-lee


Shirley is an Old English (place name/surname) girl's name meaning “shire/county meadow”. It appears in our list of 200+ Retro Baby Girl Names Making a Chic Comeback.

Meaning & Origin of Shirley

Meaning: Shire/county meadow.

Origin: Old English (place name/surname).

A common claim: Bright meadow. Actually: The first part of Shirley is generally traced to 'shire' or 'county' rather than 'bright,' so 'bright meadow' isn't a settled meaning.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Shirley

Phonetic: SHER-lee   IPA: /ˈʃɜːrli/

Popularity of Shirley

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Lists That Include Shirley

Similar Names

Marilyn · Betty · Donna · Beverly · Barbara · Judy

More Baby Name Inspiration