Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Shirlene isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1923. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Shirlene through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,856
- 0 boys · 4,856 girls
- Most popular year
- 1956
- 159 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 2010. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 159 in 1956. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,391 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Shirlene’s family of names
In English usage, Shirlene has a related form in Shirley.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Shirlene, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ilene
“the light-bearer; from the green meadow”
>99% girls
Sheryl
“one who is greatly loved; a darling” · “from the bright clearing”
>99% girls
Raylene
“son of grace”
>99% girls
Rennie
“one who has been reborn” · “one who is helpful; generous”
14% boys · 86% girls
Darlene
“ouf little darling”
>99% girls
Kathrine
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Charlene
“a small, strong woman”
>99% girls
Cerise
“resembling the cherry”
>99% girls