A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Arley since 1884
Babies named Arley per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2025, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Arley's real moment was 1897.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 6 | 20 |
| 1890s | 10 | 68 |
| 1900s | 5 | 70 |
| 1910s | 25 | 318 |
| 1920s | 68 | 520 |
| 1930s | 27 | 391 |
| 1940s | 0 | 320 |
| 1950s | 0 | 217 |
| 1960s | 0 | 136 |
| 1970s | 0 | 92 |
| 1980s | 108 | 134 |
| 1990s | 55 | 180 |
| 2000s | 118 | 139 |
| 2010s | 272 | 603 |
| 2020s | 204 | 440 |
Meaning & origin
Arley is a unisex name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1885, and it reached its peak popularity in 1897. After a long period of decline, the name has been rising again since 1997, and currently ranks 1,753 with a frequency of about 1 in 18,566 births. The name is most common in Arizona, California, and Texas, suggesting a modern appeal in the South and West. Its revival reflects a broader trend of resurrecting late-19th-century names.
Arley is thought to originate from various English place names such as Arley in Warwickshire and Cheshire. These place names likely derive from Old English 'earn' (eagle) and 'leah' (wood, clearing), thus meaning 'eagle wood' or 'eagle clearing'. As a given name, it came into use in the late 19th century, possibly as a transfer from the surname.
Where Arley is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lee, Arl
Sibling names for Arley
Names that share Arley's style, for a brother or sister.
