What does Laleh mean?
Laleh means “tulip” in Persian.
What does Shirin mean?
Shirin means “sweet” or “charming”; she is the beloved of Persian romance.
Laleh vs Shirin
Which is more popular?
Shirin is more popular than Laleh today: about 15 US babies were given the name Shirin in 2025, compared with 10 named Laleh.
| Laleh | Shirin | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Tulip | Sweet, charming |
| Origin | Persian | Persian |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | LAH-leh | shee-REEN |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1980 | 1938 |
| Peak year | 2013 (10) | 1985 (27) |
| In 2025 | 10 | 15 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Laleh
Shirin
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Laleh | Shirin |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 33 | 67 |
| 2010s | 29 | 133 |
| 2000s | 7 | 134 |
| 1990s | 0 | 136 |
| 1980s | 28 | 176 |
| 1970s | 0 | 86 |
| 1960s | 0 | 52 |
| 1950s | 0 | 12 |
| 1930s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Laleh or Shirin more popular?
Shirin is more popular than Laleh today: about 15 US babies were given the name Shirin in 2025, compared with 10 named Laleh.
What is the difference between Laleh and Shirin?
Laleh means Tulip (Persian origin), while Shirin means Sweet, charming (Persian origin).
Which name is older, Laleh or Shirin?
In US records, Laleh first appears in 1980 and Shirin in 1938, so Shirin has the longer recorded history.