Holding steady.
Popularity of Shirlene since 1923
Babies named Shirlene per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1956, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Shirlene's real moment was 1936.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 75 |
| 1930s | 818 |
| 1940s | 1,022 |
| 1950s | 1,356 |
| 1960s | 1,039 |
| 1970s | 301 |
| 1980s | 146 |
| 1990s | 67 |
| 2000s | 27 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Shirlene is a feminine name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1923. It reached its peak popularity in 1936, during the height of the Shirley Temple era, when many parents were drawn to names similar to Shirley. The name has since fallen out of widespread use, with limited but consistent records in recent decades. The trajectory remains stable, indicating a niche but enduring choice. The name's derivation from Shirley, meaning 'bright clearing', gives it a positive, nature-inspired image. Shirlene reflects a naming fashion of the early 20th century where the suffix 'ene' was added to create new, melodious names.
Shirlene is a feminine name that emerged in the early 20th century as a variant or elaboration of Shirley. Shirley itself is an English place name from the Old English words 'scir' (bright) and 'leah' (clearing or woodland). The name Shirley gained popularity after appearing in the 1847 novel 'Shirley' by Charlotte Bronte, though its use was further propelled by child star Shirley Temple in the 1930s. Shirlene reflects the early 20th century trend of creating new feminine names by adding the suffix 'ene' to established names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Shirl, Lena
Sibling names for Shirlene
Names that share Shirlene's style, for a brother or sister.
