Marley
Marley is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Pleasant wood, boundary clearing, or lake meadow.
Origin and history
Marley is a name of Old English origin, derived from place names meaning 'pleasant wood', 'boundary wood', or 'lake meadow'. Historically a surname, it gained popularity as a given name in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In the United States, it is widely used for girls, blending a relaxed modern sound with a classic habitational background.
Popularity in the United States
33,045 babies in the United States have been named Marley since 1880. It ranks #784 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #263.
States where it is most popular
- CA (11 %)
- TX (8.1 %)
- FL (5.7 %)
- GA (4.3 %)
- NY (4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 12 |
| 1940-1950 | 18 |
| 1950-1960 | 38 |
| 1960-1970 | 41 |
| 1970-1980 | 124 |
| 1980-1990 | 497 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,035 |
| 2000-2010 | 8,992 |
| 2010-2019 | 14,235 |
| 2020-2029 | 7,053 |
Famous people named Marley
- Marley Shelton: Actress
- Marley Dias: Activist, Author
Nicknames
Mar, Mars, Marls
Fun facts
- Marley transitioned from an English habitational surname into a highly popular modern given name.
- The name's usage surged in the 2000s, partly influenced by popular media such as the memoir and film 'Marley & Me'.