The name Shirley comes from a surname, which is derived from a place name meaning "bright clearing" in Old English.
This name was given by Charlotte Brontë (1816 - 1855) to the title character of her novel Shirley (1849).
The novel's popularity led to Shirley becoming a feminine name. According to the novel, Shirley was given the name her parents had selected in prospect of a son.
Before the publication of this novel, Shirley was a masculine name.
Famous bearers
Bearers include Shirley Booth (1898 - 1992), an American actress;
Shirley Temple (born 1928), an American actress;
Shirley MacLaine (born 1934), an American actress;
Shirley Jones (born 1934), an American singer and actress;
Shirley Manson (born 1966), a Scottish musician and the lead vocalist of the band Garbage.
