Shirley
Shirley (name) means a given name, originally an English surname meaning "bright meadow," popular for girls from the 1920s to 1950s. Example: “Her grandmother was named Shirley, after the silent-film star.”
How to use Shirley
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA traditional English given name and surname.
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her grandmother was named _____, after the silent-film star.
Etymology
From an English place name combining Old English sċīr ("bright" or, in place names, related to shire) and lēah ("meadow"); later used as a surname and then a given name.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Shirley
See all rhymes for Shirley →Frequently asked questions
What does “Shirley” mean?
The word “Shirley” means a given name, originally an English surname meaning "bright meadow," popular for girls from the 1920s to 1950s. In plain terms, a traditional English given name and surname.
How do you pronounce “Shirley”?
“Shirley” is pronounced SHUR-lee (/ˈʃɜː(ɹ)li/ in IPA).
How do you use “Shirley” in a sentence?
Here is “Shirley” used in a sentence: “Her grandmother was named Shirley, after the silent-film star.”
What part of speech is “Shirley”?
“Shirley” is a name.
Where does the word “Shirley” come from?
The word “Shirley” comes from Old English. From an English place name combining Old English sċīr ("bright" or, in place names, related to shire) and lēah ("meadow"); later used as a surname and then a given name.
Is “Shirley” a common word?
“Shirley” is an uncommon word in modern English.
When was the name Shirley most popular?
Shirley was especially popular as a girl's given name from the 1920s to the 1950s. Its popularity has declined significantly since that period.
Was Shirley originally a name for boys or girls?
Shirley began as an English surname, which was not gender-specific, but once adopted as a first name it became popular specifically as a name for girls, particularly from the 1920s through the 1950s.