What is the name of the titular character in 'Shirley'?

The titular character in Charlotte Brontë’s novel Shirley is Shirley Keeldar.

Shirley Keeldar is a wealthy, independent young woman who inherits the estate of Fieldhead. She is one of the novel’s two central heroines, alongside Caroline Helstone, and her confident, unconventional personality provides a sharp contrast with Caroline’s more timid and uncertain nature. Shirley’s wealth gives her an unusual degree of freedom in a society where women’s choices were heavily restricted.

Published in 1849, Shirley is set in Yorkshire during the industrial depression of 1811–1812, when the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 damaged the textile trade. The novel also depicts Luddite resistance to labour-saving machinery, including an attack on Robert Moore’s mill. Shirley’s romantic storyline eventually connects her with Louis Moore, Robert’s brother.

A frequent mistake is choosing Caroline Helstone because she is equally important to the plot, or Louis Moore because he is closely connected to Shirley’s romance. However, the title refers to Shirley Keeldar herself. The novel’s popularity also helped Shirley become established as a female first name in English-speaking culture.