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How Many People Are Named Shirley?
Estimated people named Shirley living in the U.S. today
270,551
Gender distribution
1% male · 99% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 695,797
- Peak year: 1935 (42,800 births)
- Estimated living today: 270,551
Shirley by age group — who carries the name today?
Shirley popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Shirley
Shirley has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 695,797 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 270,551 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 1,263 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Shirleys you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Shirley in the US?
An estimated 270,551 people named Shirley are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Shirley uncommon — about 1 in 1,263 Americans.
Is Shirley a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Shirley is 1% male and 99% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was Shirley most popular?
Shirley peaked in 1935, when 42,800 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Shirley?
Shirley ranks #189 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 36 out of 100 (higher means rarer).