Shirley vs. Betty: which name is older?
The average Shirley is 75 and the average Betty is 76, so Betty is the older name, by about 1 year.
Shirley
Betty
When was each name popular?
Betty peaked first, in 1930 (during the Depression). Shirley peaked in 1935, 5 years later.
Which name is more common?
There are about 290,000 Shirleys and about 310,000 Bettys alive in the US, so there are about as many Bettys as Shirleys.
Boys or girls?
Both are girls' names: over 99% of living Shirleys and over 99% of living Bettys are women.
Names the same age as Shirley
Names the same age as Betty
More comparisons: Elizabeth vs. Betty · Barbara vs. Betty
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Shirley or Betty: questions
Which is older, Shirley or Betty?
The average Shirley is 75 and the average Betty is 76, so Betty is the older name, by about 1 year.
How old is the average Shirley?
The average Shirley in the US is 75; half of all living Shirleys are between 69 and 84.
How old is the average Betty?
The average Betty in the US is 76; half of all living Bettys are between 70 and 85.
Which is more common, Shirley or Betty?
There are about 290,000 Shirleys and about 310,000 Bettys alive in the US, so there are about as many Bettys as Shirleys.
Estimates from Social Security Administration baby-name records (births 1880–2025) and SSA cohort life tables (2026 Trustees Report). How we calculate this