Shirely

Shirely is a feminine name most likely originating as a spelling variant of Shirley. The traditional Shirley began as an English surname derived from Old English words 'scir' (bright) and 'leah' (clearing or meadow), literally meaning 'bright meadow.' Shirely emerged either through a spelling alteration or typographical evolution. While less common than the standard spelling, it maintains the same pleasant phonetics and cultural associations. Shirley gained popularity as a feminine given name in the early 20th century, particularly after the success of child star Shirley Temple. The Shirely variant, though less frequent, shares similar connotations of brightness, cheerfulness, and clarity.

Pronounced SHUR-lee.

As of October 2026, Shirely ranked #7330 in US births in 1969 SSA, peaked at #2372 in 1936.