Holding steady.
Popularity of Manley since 1880
Babies named Manley per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1927, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Manley's real moment was 1897.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 71 |
| 1890s | 74 |
| 1900s | 68 |
| 1910s | 379 |
| 1920s | 500 |
| 1930s | 308 |
| 1940s | 275 |
| 1950s | 231 |
| 1960s | 103 |
| 1970s | 85 |
| 1980s | 69 |
| 1990s | 41 |
| 2000s | 23 |
| 2010s | 6 |
| 2020s | 18 |
Meaning & origin
Manley is a classic English surname-turned-first-name that enjoyed a brief period of use in the late 1800s. Its peak year was 1897, when it ranked among the top 1000 names. However, since then it has steadily declined and is now rarely given to newborns. The name's stable trajectory over the decades suggests it was most common in the 1890s, but it never became widespread. Despite its obscurity, Manley carries a straightforward meaning related to a 'common meadow' and has a sturdy, vintage charm. Parents interested in reviving an old-fashioned name might consider Manley, though it remains an uncommon choice today.
Manley is an English surname-turned-first-name, derived from a place name meaning 'common wood or clearing' in Old English: (ge)mǣne 'common' + lēah 'wood, clearing'. The surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as Manleia. As a given name, Manley saw modest use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, peaking in 1897, but has since fallen out of common usage.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Manny
Variants: Manly
Sibling names for Manley
Names that share Manley's style, for a brother or sister.
