Unisex name · since 1934
Shirl
Since 1934, U.S. Social Security records show 1,323 babies named Shirl, peaking in 1964. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #6,210 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 1,323
- born since 1934
- 1960s
- peak decade
Shirl is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 1,323 have been recorded since 1934.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shirl has been recorded 1,323 times among girls since 1934, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1960s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1934 to 1983.
- #6,210 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 1,323 born since 1934
- 1960s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shirl ranks #6,210 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,323 born since 1934, peaking in the 1960s.
- #6,210 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 1,323
- born since 1934
- 1960s
- peak decade
Shirl's 1,323 recorded births place it above 91.41% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
19 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by Pennsylvania.
Shirl's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Shirl's SSA record in two at 1961 and the more recent half accounts for 68% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 32%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1935, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1964 peak of 210, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Shirl popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1934–1983
- Peak year (1964)
- 210
- Annual births at peak, across 50 years of records
Shirl popularity over time - boys
448 total births recorded since 1915 (Shirl as boys' name)
Shirl by decade
1960s is the heaviest window (796 births, 60% of the file).
1960s was Shirl's strongest decade.
796 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 60% of all-time use.
Shirl births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1930s 17
1930s
17 births
- 1940s 75
1940s
75 births
- 1950s 288
1950s
288 births
- 1960s
1960s
796 births
- 1970s 124
1970s
124 births
- 1980s 23
1980s
23 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 796 births (60% of all-time use).
How Shirl compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Shirl's total volume
Shirl by state
Where Shirl concentrates geographically, total births since 1934
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pennsylvania | | 82 | 6.2% |
| #2 | Texas | | 53 | 4.0% |
| #3 | Maryland | | 49 | 3.7% |
| #4 | Virginia | | 44 | 3.3% |
| #5 | California | | 40 | 3.0% |
| #6 | New York | | 30 | 2.3% |
| #7 | North Carolina | | 25 | 1.9% |
| #8 | Illinois | | 21 | 1.6% |
82 of 1,323 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 19 reporting states.
Shirl appears in 19 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Shirl's data
- Shirl's decade-level peak was the 1960s (796 total births); usage has since declined to 23 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Pennsylvania records the most Shirls (82 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Pennsylvania names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Shirl
Nearby Names Like Shirl
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shirl
Compare Shirl side by side: Shirl vs Shirley Shirl vs Shiloh Shirl vs Shira
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Shirl: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1964)
Similar record span (~49 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1934–1983 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Shirl draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.