Shirlee Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Shirlee is an English name that means 'bright clearing' and has its roots in the Old English place name Scirleah. It evolved through various forms in the English language and gained popularity in the 20th century. The name is associated with positive traits such as creativity and warmth, and while it has become less common in modern times, it retains a vintage charm.
The name Shirlee is most popular in Iowa, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Silent Generation generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Shirlee has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Shirlee' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6773rd out of 6773 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 844th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 577th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1197th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4011th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 9021st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 27544th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 30306th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Shirlee' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Shirlee"
Pronunciation
/ˈʃɪrli/
Origin
English
Etymology
The name Shirlee is derived from the English surname Shirley, which originally referred to someone from a place called Shirley in England. The place name itself is believed to come from the Old English elements 'scir' meaning 'bright' or 'clear' and 'leah' meaning 'wood' or 'clearing'.
Meaning
bright clearing
Language Evolution
Old English: Scirleah, Middle English: Shirle, Modern English: Shirlee
Historical Usage
Shirlee gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in the United States during the mid-1900s, likely influenced by the trend of using surnames as given names.
Variants & Derivatives
Shirley, Shirlie, Sharly
Modern Popularity & Image
The name Shirlee is often perceived as vintage and charming, associated with creativity and warmth. It has seen a decline in popularity in recent years.
Famous People
Shirlee Smith, Shirlee Emmons
Explore More Shirlee Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Shirlee"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Shirlee"
"Shirlee" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 6773rd of 6773 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 844th of 9107 | 1,289 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 577th of 9204 | 2,625 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1197th of 12526 | 1,417 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 4011th of 19264 | 244 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 9021st of 27321 | 114 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 27544th of 35406 | 15 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 30306th of 30306 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Shirlee" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Shirlee" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
33.19% 470th/1416 |
44.67% 616th/1379 |
- |
37.74% 431st/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
26.00% 402nd/1546 |
37.60% 585th/1556 |
53.89% 1268th/2353 |
24.82% 384th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
40.28% 897th/2227 |
63.05% 1532nd/2430 |
95.37% 2721st/2853 |
30.77% 854th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
92.94% 3237th/3483 |
- |
76.78% 3105th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
100.00% 6317th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Shirlee"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Shirlee" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.