A 1950s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Shireen since 1923
Babies named Shireen per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1991, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Shireen's real moment was 1951.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 5 |
| 1930s | 5 |
| 1940s | 52 |
| 1950s | 160 |
| 1960s | 160 |
| 1970s | 209 |
| 1980s | 262 |
| 1990s | 248 |
| 2000s | 117 |
| 2010s | 93 |
| 2020s | 44 |
Meaning & origin
Shireen, a name of Persian origin meaning 'sweet,' has a notable history in the United States. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1923, and its peak year of popularity was 1951, during the mid-20th century. After a period of decline, the name has been rising in usage since 2020, fitting a pattern of revival from the 1950s decade. Despite its modest rank of 9,457 in 2025, the name carries cultural weight from Persian literature and remains a distinctive choice for families seeking a name with poetic resonance.
Shireen is derived from the Persian word 'shirin' (شیرین), meaning 'sweet' or 'pleasant.' It is a classic name in Persian literature and culture, most famously borne by the character Shirin in the Persian epic 'Khosrow and Shirin' by the 12th-century poet Nizami Ganjavi. The name has been used across Persian-speaking regions and among Muslim communities in South Asia for centuries.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Shiri, Shee, Reen
Sibling names for Shireen
Names that share Shireen's style, for a brother or sister.
