Will my child share the name Shirley with classmates?

Unlikely. With around 5 UK babies named Shirley per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Shirley in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.

Is Shirley becoming more or less popular in the UK?

Shirley is declining: down 1,358 places since 2020, to #4,201 in 2025. It peaked at #1,107 in 2001.

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.

👧 Girl's name 💎 Relatively Unique UK #4201

Shirley

🗳️ Add Shirley to a family shortlist

Shirley is a distinctive choice, ranked #4201 in 2025. Your child is likely to be the only Shirley in their class.

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UK Rank 2025

#4201

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 rare in the UK, so your child is very likely to be the only Shirley in their class.