Namewise
Shortlist

Shirley

femaleStatistical record

What official birth registration shows about Shirley: which national registrars published it, in which years, and how its recorded position changed.

No researched meaning or origin yet — what that means.

Pronunciation

Community-contributed pronunciation recording

A Dutch pronunciation, as its file is labelled. Recording by Marcel Coenders. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0. Source

VerifiedSource: Wikidata.Confidence: medium.

Falling

among girls in England and Wales · 1996–2025

England and Wales · Girls rank from 1996 to 2025, ranging from #1107 to #5591.199920042009201520202025#1107#5591
How to read this chart#1#500no figure publishedUp means a stronger rankBottom is this name's lowest,not zero
  • A rank is a position in one registrar's list for one year.
  • Ranks from different countries are separate scales, so compare shapes, not numbers.
  • A rise in rank can be a small change in births, especially far down a list.
View as table
England and Wales · Girls rank by year
YearRank
1996#1364
1997#1543
1998#1571
1999#1261
2000#1250
2001#1107
2002#1928
2003#3099
2004#1617
2005#1690
2006#1983
2007#2233
2008#3005
2009#3422
2010#2843
2011#3185
2012#2521
2014#3514
2015#3252
2016#2233
2017#3583
2018#3178
2019#5591
2020#2843
2021#5581
2022#3148
2023#3218
2024#3015
2025#4201

VerifiedSource: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales.Confidence: high.

See all England and Wales names · Source: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales

What the data shows

FallingEngland and Wales · Girls

Recorded in official data among girls in Republic of Ireland in 39 of the 60 years from 1964 to 2023.

In 2023: #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland, #3218 among girls in England and Wales.

Official data from 5 national registrars across 5 regions, 1952–2025 · Office for National Statistics. Data sources

Year-by-year storyFirst recorded, most recent, each country and each decade

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1964

    Highest recorded position: #30 among girls in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1964).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Full data tableEvery published rank and count

Popularity data

Official popularity data is available for 5 regions, from 1952 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #30 in New Zealand in 1957.

Shirley's recorded popularity observations by year, region and administrative category, including rank, registered births, source confidence and when each region's data was last reviewed.
YearRegionCategoryRankBirths registeredConfidenceStatus
2025England and Walesfemale#42015HighVerified
2024England and Walesfemale#30158HighVerified
2023England and Walesfemale#32187HighVerified
2022England and Walesfemale#31487HighVerified
2021England and Walesfemale#55813HighVerified
2020England and Walesfemale#28438HighVerified
2019England and Walesfemale#55913HighVerified
2018England and Walesfemale#31787HighVerified
2017England and Walesfemale#35836HighVerified
2016England and Walesfemale#223312HighVerified
2015England and Walesfemale#32527HighVerified
2014England and Walesfemale#35146HighVerified
2012England and Walesfemale#252110HighVerified
2011England and Walesfemale#31857HighVerified
2010England and Walesfemale#28438HighVerified
2009England and Walesfemale#34226HighVerified
2008England and Walesfemale#30057HighVerified
2007England and Walesfemale#223310HighVerified
2006England and Walesfemale#198311HighVerified
2005England and Walesfemale#169013HighVerified
2004England and Walesfemale#161713HighVerified
2003England and Walesfemale#30995HighVerified
2002England and Walesfemale#19289HighVerified
2001England and Walesfemale#110718HighVerified
2000England and Walesfemale#125015HighVerified
1999England and Walesfemale#126115HighVerified
1998England and Walesfemale#157111HighVerified
1997England and Walesfemale#154311HighVerified
1996England and Walesfemale#136413HighVerified
1961New South Wales, Australiafemale#10082InsufficientNot yet available
1960New South Wales, Australiafemale#9885InsufficientNot yet available
1959New South Wales, Australiafemale#75110InsufficientNot yet available
1958New South Wales, Australiafemale#81107InsufficientNot yet available
1957New South Wales, Australiafemale#72121InsufficientNot yet available
1956New South Wales, Australiafemale#67129InsufficientNot yet available
1955New South Wales, Australiafemale#76113InsufficientNot yet available
1954New South Wales, Australiafemale#72125InsufficientNot yet available
1953New South Wales, Australiafemale#62148InsufficientNot yet available
1952New South Wales, Australiafemale#48178InsufficientNot yet available
1964New Zealandfemale#8283HighVerified
1963New Zealandfemale#73107HighVerified
1962New Zealandfemale#78105HighVerified
1961New Zealandfemale#44162HighVerified
1960New Zealandfemale#47149HighVerified
1959New Zealandfemale#36181HighVerified
1958New Zealandfemale#36180HighVerified
1957New Zealandfemale#30210HighVerified
1956New Zealandfemale#35184HighVerified
1955New Zealandfemale#42152HighVerified
1954New Zealandfemale#40160HighVerified
2011Northern Irelandfemale#4443HighVerified
2023Republic of Irelandfemale#8563HighVerified
2016Republic of Irelandfemale#6615HighVerified
2011Republic of Irelandfemale#7984HighVerified
2003Republic of Irelandfemale#4905HighVerified
1998Republic of Irelandfemale#3805HighVerified
1997Republic of Irelandfemale#4405HighVerified
1996Republic of Irelandfemale#3567HighVerified
1995Republic of Irelandfemale#3527HighVerified
1994Republic of Irelandfemale#24014HighVerified
1993Republic of Irelandfemale#3567HighVerified
1992Republic of Irelandfemale#3229HighVerified
1991Republic of Irelandfemale#26313HighVerified
1990Republic of Irelandfemale#24215HighVerified
1989Republic of Irelandfemale#22816HighVerified
1988Republic of Irelandfemale#28012HighVerified
1987Republic of Irelandfemale#26214HighVerified
1986Republic of Irelandfemale#19823HighVerified
1985Republic of Irelandfemale#19227HighVerified
1984Republic of Irelandfemale#17833HighVerified
1983Republic of Irelandfemale#15842HighVerified
1982Republic of Irelandfemale#13457HighVerified
1981Republic of Irelandfemale#16340HighVerified
1980Republic of Irelandfemale#14055HighVerified
1979Republic of Irelandfemale#11172HighVerified
1978Republic of Irelandfemale#11368HighVerified
1977Republic of Irelandfemale#11170HighVerified
1976Republic of Irelandfemale#86101HighVerified
1975Republic of Irelandfemale#8397HighVerified
1974Republic of Irelandfemale#67140HighVerified
1973Republic of Irelandfemale#69136HighVerified
1972Republic of Irelandfemale#66128HighVerified
1971Republic of Irelandfemale#64135HighVerified
1970Republic of Irelandfemale#9581HighVerified
1969Republic of Irelandfemale#9380HighVerified
1968Republic of Irelandfemale#11057HighVerified
1967Republic of Irelandfemale#11055HighVerified
1966Republic of Irelandfemale#9368HighVerified
1965Republic of Irelandfemale#13338HighVerified
1964Republic of Irelandfemale#12443HighVerified

See methodology and data sources for how popularity data is collected and what "confidence" means.

Where Shirley is officially recorded

5 official registrars have recorded Shirley, between 1952 and 2025, in 73 of those 74 years. Each registrar publishes for its own population on its own methodology, so the positions below are each one country's own ranking and are not comparable with one another.

New South Wales, Austra…New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1952New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1953New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1954New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1955New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1956New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1957New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1958New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1959New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1960New South Wales, Australia: recorded in 1961New South Wales, Australia: highest position in 1952New ZealandNew Zealand: recorded in 1954New Zealand: recorded in 1955New Zealand: recorded in 1956New Zealand: recorded in 1957New Zealand: recorded in 1958New Zealand: recorded in 1959New Zealand: recorded in 1960New Zealand: recorded in 1961New Zealand: recorded in 1962New Zealand: recorded in 1963New Zealand: recorded in 1964New Zealand: highest position in 1957Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland: recorded in 1964Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1965Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1966Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1967Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1968Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1969Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1970Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1971Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1972Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1973Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1974Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1975Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1976Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1977Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1978Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1979Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1980Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1981Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1982Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1983Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1984Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1985Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1986Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1987Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1988Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1989Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1990Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1991Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1992Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1993Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1994Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1995Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1996Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1997Republic of Ireland: recorded in 1998Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2003Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2011Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2016Republic of Ireland: recorded in 2023Republic of Ireland: highest position in 1971England and WalesEngland and Wales: recorded in 1996England and Wales: recorded in 1997England and Wales: recorded in 1998England and Wales: recorded in 1999England and Wales: recorded in 2000England and Wales: recorded in 2001England and Wales: recorded in 2002England and Wales: recorded in 2003England and Wales: recorded in 2004England and Wales: recorded in 2005England and Wales: recorded in 2006England and Wales: recorded in 2007England and Wales: recorded in 2008England and Wales: recorded in 2009England and Wales: recorded in 2010England and Wales: recorded in 2011England and Wales: recorded in 2012England and Wales: recorded in 2014England and Wales: recorded in 2015England and Wales: recorded in 2016England and Wales: recorded in 2017England and Wales: recorded in 2018England and Wales: recorded in 2019England and Wales: recorded in 2020England and Wales: recorded in 2021England and Wales: recorded in 2022England and Wales: recorded in 2023England and Wales: recorded in 2024England and Wales: recorded in 2025England and Wales: highest position in 2001Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland: recorded in 2011Northern Ireland: highest position in 201119522025
Each mark is a year the registrar recorded the name; the diamond is that registrar's highest position. Gaps can mean a year was not published, not that the name went unused.
RegistrarRecordedYearsIts own highest position
New South Wales, Australia1952–196110#48 in 1952
New Zealand1954–196411#30 in 1957
Republic of Ireland1964–202339#64 in 1971
England and Wales1996–202529#1107 in 2001
Northern Ireland20111#444 in 2011

Its high point came 59 years earlier in New South Wales, Australia (1952) than in Northern Ireland (2011).

Names measured beside itNeighbours, comparisons, related names and shared trajectories

What is known about Shirley

How to read this
How often it is registered
Official record
5 official registrars, 1952–2025.
Meaning
Not established
Not researched yet.
Origin
Not established
Not researched yet.
Pronunciation
Reported
A recorded pronunciation is available.

A claim marked not established does not mean the name lacks a meaning or is not widely used — only that Namewise has not sourced and reviewed that content yet. Absence from a specific year or geography above does not prove zero use there either; official statistics only publish names above a minimum threshold.

Official popularity data is available for 5 regions, from 1952 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #30 in New Zealand in 1957. Source data last verified 2026-07-21.