Shirley

E20376

Shirley is an English surname of Old English origin that has also become a common given name.


Statements (40)
Predicate Object
instanceOf English-language feminine given name
English-language surname
English-language unisex given name
given name
surname
associatedWithFamousBearer Shirley Temple
canFunctionAs first name
last name
middle name
derivedFrom Old English element "lēah" (wood, clearing, meadow)
Old English elements "scīr" (bright or shire)
etymologicalType toponymic surname
hasCulturalAssociation 20th-century English-speaking world
hasDiminutive Shirl
hasGenderUsage feminine
masculine
hasLanguage English
hasMeaning bright meadow
shire clearing
hasOrigin Old English
hasPhoneticForm /ˈʃɜːli/ in British English
/ˈʃɜːrli/ in General American English
hasUsage given name
surname
hasVariantSpelling Shirl
Shirlee
hasWritingSystem Latin alphabet
laterBecame primarily a feminine given name
nameCategory English given name
English surname
nameType personal name
originallyReferredTo a place name in England
popularityIncreasedAfter publication of the novel "Shirley" by Charlotte Brontë
typicalNameOrder given name before surname in English contexts
usedInCountry Australia
Canada
New Zealand
United Kingdom
United States
wasOriginally primarily a masculine given name

Referenced by (4)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Shirley Jones
Shirley Jones
Shirley Williams
givenName
James Shirley
familyName

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