Shirley

Also Portuguese (Brazilian): https://www.behindthename.com/name/shirley/top/brazil

Shirley was originally a male name much like Ashley, Beverly and Shannon. These names were also originally male and have long histories (many generations) of being male names. Down through the ages the trend has been that once parents start giving their daughters male names (like the more recent trend of Palmer, Ezra, Wyatt, Pierce, Sinclair) the names begin to be abandoned by parents naming male children. It takes a relatively short time (maybe 2 generations) before the names are abandoned by males and our minds become attuned to hearing these names as solely and exclusively feminine such as Marion and Leslie. Few people today hear the names Marion and Leslie and think masculine. I understand the name James is being given to girls now. In some cases of course the names just become unisex with varying spellings for boys and girls. I don't see the point myself.

My Christian name is Shirley and it is the only Christain name I have. I was born in 1930 which makes me now 86. I am male and have lived contently with this name for 86 years, which included 7 years in the Royal Navy where I met no problems whatsoever. I was born before Shirley Temple was even thought of and where the name Shirley was not common but a known man's name. When I started work in 1944 there were three men in the organization with the name Shirley. Whilst in the navy the captain of my ship had a second Christain name of Shirley. This may be of interest to some people.

The name Shirley was given to 181 girls born in the US in 2015.

Shirley was given to 200 girls in America in 2014.

This name was only ever really used in a masculine format until Charlotte Bronte's novel 'Shirley.' Before that, it was pretty much unheard of for a woman to bear this name.