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.
- #7,299 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 1,042
- born since 1911
- 1940s
- peak 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.
- #7,299 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 1,042 born since 1911
- 1940s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Shirly ranks #7,299 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,042 born since 1911, peaking in the 1940s.
- #7,299 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 1,042
- born since 1911
- 1940s
- peak decade
Shirly's 1,042 recorded births place it above 89.9% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by California.
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 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
1940s is the heaviest window (214 births, 21% of the file).
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 by state
Where Shirly concentrates geographically, total births since 1911
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 5 | 0.5% |
5 of 1,042 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Shirly? ▼
Where does Shirly sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Shirly most popular? ▼
Where is Shirly most popular? ▼
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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
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
Compare Shirly side by side: Shirly vs Shirley Shirly vs Shiloh Shirly 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 Shirly: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1936)
Similar record span (~105 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, 1911–2016 (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 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 August 2026.