Shirley \sh(ir)-ley\ as a girl's name is pronounced SURE-lee. It is of Old English origin, and the meaning of Shirley is "bright meadow". Place name. Made famous by child actress and American ambassador Shirley Temple-Black. Actress Shirley MacLaine; politician Shirley Chisholm; novelist Shirley Hazzard.

Shirley has 20 variant forms: Sherlee, Sherli, Sherlie, Sherrlie, Sheryl, Shirell, Shirelle, Shirely, Shirl, Shirlea, Shirlee, Shirleen, Shirleigh, Shirlene, Shirlinda, Shirline, Shirlley, Shirly, Shirlyn and Shurlee.

For more information, see also the related name Shelley.

Baby names that sound like Shirley are Charley, Sharly and Sharlee.