Cheryl vs Shirley
Cheryl and Shirleycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1961, Cheryl was ranked #30 and Shirley #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1964, Cheryl was ranked #72 and Shirley #82 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Cheryl was ranked #550 and Shirley #798 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Cheryl was ranked #4201 and Shirley #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Cheryl and Shirley over time
Cheryl and Shirley appear together in 4 published lists, across 80 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Cheryl reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Shirley in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1964, Cheryl moved ahead of Shirley in New Zealand · Girls — #78 and #73 the year before became #72 and #82.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Cheryl and Shirley changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #4201 and #4201.
- Longest-running competitions
Cheryl and Shirley were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 31 years, from 1965 to 2011, ending at #550 and #798.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Cheryl #11 in 1952, Shirley #48 in 1952.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls31 shared years, 1965–2011
Cheryl held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Shirley in 24.
Highest recorded here: Cheryl #179 in 1989, Shirley #64 in 1971.
The order changed in 2011: Cheryl moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #498 and #380; by 2011 that had become #550 and #798.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Cheryl #550, Shirley #798.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2025
Cheryl held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Shirley in 11.
Highest recorded here: Cheryl #671 in 1996, Shirley #1107 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Cheryl #4201, Shirley #4201.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1954–1964
Cheryl held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Shirley in 9.
Highest recorded here: Cheryl #54 in 1956, Shirley #30 in 1957.
The order changed in 1964: Cheryl moved ahead. In 1963 they stood at #78 and #73; by 1964 that had become #72 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 1964: Cheryl #72, Shirley #82.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1952–1961
Cheryl held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Shirley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Cheryl #11 in 1952, Shirley #48 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1961: Cheryl #30, Shirley #100.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Cheryl | Shirley |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Cheryl and Shirley both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Cheryl
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1972
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1972).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Shirley
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #48 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1964
Highest recorded position: #30 among girls in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1964).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls