Total births
1,042
Girls' name · since 1911
Shirly
Since 1911, U.S. Social Security records show 1,042 babies named Shirly, peaking in 1936. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,042
- total births
- 1911–2016
- years on record
- 1940s
- peak decade
- 21%
- born in that decade
1,042 girls have been named Shirly since 1911, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Shirly recorded 1,042 times among girls since 1911, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1940s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1911 to 2016.
- 1,042 total births
- 1911–2016 years on record
- 1940s peak decade
- 21% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,042 girls have been named Shirly since 1911, peaking in the 1940s, last recorded in 2016.
- 1,042
- total births
- 1911–2016
- years on record
- 1940s
- peak decade
- 21%
- born in that decade
1940s
Peak decade
21% of everyone ever named Shirly was born in this single decade.
1936
Single peak year
31 babies were named Shirly in 1936 - its busiest year on record.
Shirly's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Shirly's SSA record in two at 1959 and the more recent half accounts for 35% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 65%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1911, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1936 peak of 31, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Shirly at a glance
Last recorded 2016Peak year
1936
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1911
Shirly popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1911–2016
- Peak year (1936)
- 31
- Annual births at peak, across 106 years of records
Shirly popularity over time - boys
27 total births recorded since 1918 (Shirly as boys' name)
Shirly by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1940s was Shirly's strongest decade.
214 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 21% of all-time use.
Shirly births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 22
1910s
22 births
- 1920s
1920s
92 births
- 1930s
1930s
193 births
- 1940s
1940s
214 births
- 1950s
1950s
168 births
- 1960s
1960s
130 births
- 1970s 55
1970s
55 births
- 1980s 35
1980s
35 births
- 1990s 46
1990s
46 births
- 2000s 70
2000s
70 births
- 2010s 17
2010s
17 births
What this shows Peak: 1940s at 214 births (21% of all-time use).
How Shirly 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 Shirly's total volume
Shirly vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Shirly by state
Where Shirly concentrates geographically, total births since 1911
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 5 | 0.5% |
California share of Shirly's total US births 0.5%
5 of 1,042 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Shirly? ▼
Since 1911, Social Security records show 1,042 babies named Shirly. The most recent recorded year was 2016. Its busiest year on record was 1936, with 31 births.
When was Shirly most popular? ▼
Shirly was most popular in the 1940s decade with 214 total births. The single peak year was 1936.
Where is Shirly most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Shirly are California (5 births).
How long has the name Shirly been used? ▼
Records for Shirly go back to 1911, giving 106 years of history through 2016.
What names are similar to Shirly? ▼
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 Shirly's data
- Shirly's decade-level peak was the 1940s (214 total births); usage has since declined to 17 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Shirlys (5 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California 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 Shirly
Nearby Names Like Shirly
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Shirly
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 Shirly side by side: Shirly vs Shirley Shirly vs Shiloh Shirly 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, 1911–2016 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Shirly: Baby Name Since 1911 - 1,042 Births, Peak 1936." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/shirly. 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 Shirly 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.