Marley
Marley is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Pleasant wood, boundary wood, or lake meadow.
Origin and history
Marley is a unisex name derived from an English surname and place name meaning 'pleasant wood' or 'lake meadow'. While historically more common for females in recent decades, it maintains steady usage for males in the United States. Its association with reggae legend Bob Marley and various pop culture references keeps it familiar and modern.
Popularity in the United States
5,359 babies in the United States have been named Marley since 1880. It ranks #1671 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1053.
States where it is most popular
- CA (20.8 %)
- FL (10.4 %)
- TX (8.3 %)
- NY (7.5 %)
- GA (6.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 36 |
| 1920-1930 | 80 |
| 1930-1940 | 53 |
| 1940-1950 | 33 |
| 1950-1960 | 57 |
| 1960-1970 | 11 |
| 1970-1980 | 17 |
| 1980-1990 | 119 |
| 1990-2000 | 303 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,299 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,292 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,059 |
Famous people named Marley
- Marley Watkins: Athlete, Soccer Player
Fun facts
- Originally derived from several Old English place names combining 'mearc' (boundary) or 'mery' (pleasant) with 'leah' (wood/clearing).
- Much of its modern adoption as a given name stems from admiration for Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley.