Will my child share the name Shirley with classmates?

Unlikely. With around 8 UK babies named Shirley per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Shirley in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.

Is Shirley becoming more or less popular in the UK?

Shirley has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 173 places in the last five years. Its peak was #1107 in 2001. Choosing it now means she is likely to be among the last of her generation with this name.

Is Shirley a good choice for a distinctive name?

Shirley is a distinctive choice sitting outside the mainstream UK top names. Parents choosing less common names often find their children appreciate the individuality as they grow up, rarely needing to add an initial to distinguish themselves.

Is Shirley a popular baby name in the United States?

Shirley does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice.

NameInClass Baby name predictor

👧 Girl's name 💎 Relatively Unique UK #3016

Shirley

Shirley is a distinctive choice, ranked #3016 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Shirley in their class.

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UK Rank 2024

#3016

About the Name Shirley

Shirley has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 173 places in five years. It was most popular in 2001 at #1107 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.

Shirley is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.