Total births
336
Girls' name · since 1937
Shirlean
336 babies named Shirlean in U.S. Social Security records since 1937, with the highest year being 1960. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 336
- total births
- 1937–1971
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 35%
- born in that decade
Shirlean sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 336 recorded since 1937.
Social Security Administration records show Shirlean recorded 336 times among girls since 1937, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1950s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1937 to 1971.
- 336 total births
- 1937–1971 years on record
- 1950s peak decade
- 35% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
336 girls have been named Shirlean since 1937, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 1971.
- 336
- total births
- 1937–1971
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 35%
- born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade
35% of everyone ever named Shirlean was born in this single decade.
1960
Single peak year
21 babies were named Shirlean in 1960 - its busiest year on record.
Shirlean's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Shirlean splits its recorded history at 1954: 54% of all births land in the more recent half, 46% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1967 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1960 peak of 21 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Shirlean at a glance
Last recorded 1971Peak year
1960
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1937
Shirlean popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1937–1971
- Peak year (1960)
- 21
- Annual births at peak, across 35 years of records
Shirlean by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Shirlean's strongest decade.
116 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 35% of all-time use.
Shirlean births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1930s 23
1930s
23 births
- 1940s
1940s
92 births
- 1950s
1950s
116 births
- 1960s
1960s
92 births
- 1970s 13
1970s
13 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 116 births (35% of all-time use).
Shirlean by state
Where Shirlean concentrates geographically, total births since 1937
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Mississippi | | 10 | 3.0% |
| #2 | North Carolina | | 7 | 2.1% |
| #3 | Louisiana | | 5 | 1.5% |
Mississippi share of Shirlean's total US births 3.0%
Even split
10 of 336 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Shirlean? ▼
Shirlean has been given to 336 babies in the U.S. since 1937, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1971. 21 babies were born in 1960, its single highest year.
When was Shirlean most popular? ▼
Shirlean was most popular in the 1950s decade with 116 total births. The single peak year was 1960.
Where is Shirlean most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Shirlean are Mississippi (10 births), North Carolina (7 births), Louisiana (5 births).
How long has the name Shirlean been used? ▼
Shirlean has been recorded in Social Security data since 1937, spanning 35 years of data through 1971.
What names are similar to Shirlean? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Shirley, Shiloh, Shira, Shirlee, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Shirlean's data
- Shirlean's decade-level peak was the 1950s (116 total births); usage has since declined to 13 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Mississippi records the most Shirleans (10 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Mississippi names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Shirlean
Nearby Names Like Shirlean
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shirlean
Shirley Girl
#1452 686,383 births
Shiloh Girl
#260 15,117 births
Shira Girl
#2334 5,815 births
Shirlee Girl
#15433 5,709 births
Shirlene Girl
4,856 births
Compare Shirlean side by side: Shirlean vs Shirley Shirlean vs Shiloh Shirlean vs Shira
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1937–1971 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Shirlean: Baby Name Since 1937 - 336 Births, Peak 1960." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/shirlean. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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 Shirlean 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 July 2026.