Declining since 1985, #863 for boys today.
Popularity of Stanley since 1880
Babies named Stanley per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1954, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Stanley's real moment was 1916.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 997 |
| 1890s | 2,297 |
| 1900s | 4,156 |
| 1910s | 35,908 |
| 1920s | 49,456 |
| 1930s | 37,130 |
| 1940s | 46,263 |
| 1950s | 57,164 |
| 1960s | 30,005 |
| 1970s | 13,214 |
| 1980s | 9,211 |
| 1990s | 6,124 |
| 2000s | 4,127 |
| 2010s | 3,541 |
| 2020s | 1,832 |
Meaning & origin
Stanley, a name of English origin, first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1880 and reached its peak popularity in 1916, when it was ranked among the top names for boys. Since 1985, its use has steadily declined; in 2025 it ranks 863rd with a frequency of 1 in 6,144. The name was most common in the 1910s, and its top states include Michigan, Colorado, and Missouri. While often associated with the explorer Sir Henry Morton Stanley, the name has maintained a consistent, if diminishing, presence as a classic English boy's name.
Stanley is an English surname and given name derived from Old English stān 'stone' and lēah 'clearing, meadow, wood'. It originally referred to someone who lived near a stony clearing. As a given name, it gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly after the explorer Sir Henry Morton Stanley. The name peaked in use in the United States around 1916 and has since declined in popularity.
Where Stanley is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Stanley” around the world
Where Stanley lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Ireland
5
babies in 2025
New Zealand
14
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Stan
Variants: Stanleigh
Sibling names for Stanley
Names that share Stanley's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Alice, Clara, Edith, Irene, Mildred, Betty, Marjorie, Beverley, Shirlee, Joette, Jearldine, Shirlyn, Gloris, Gwendola, Lezley, Valory, Marilyne, Shelbia, Shriley
Brothers: Arthur, Ernest, Harold, Leonard, Raymond, Reginald, Gilford, Granville, Randell, Sherwood, Stan, Thurston, Winton, Welford, Casmer, Danford, Lynford, Mansfield, Reg, Norm, Stillman
Names like Stanley
Names whose popularity has moved with Stanley's over the last 50 years.
