Holding steady.
Popularity of Worley since 1882
Babies named Worley per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Worley's real moment was 1885.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 15 |
| 1890s | 21 |
| 1900s | 10 |
| 1910s | 111 |
| 1920s | 181 |
| 1930s | 159 |
| 1940s | 111 |
| 1950s | 71 |
| 1960s | 40 |
| 1970s | 11 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Worley is a rare given name that was most common in the 1880s, with its peak year in 1885. The name has a trajectory that is stable but at very low usage, never reaching a high rank. It is of English origin, likely derived from a surname tied to a place name meaning 'wood meadow' or 'enclosure by the wood.' Though not a top choice, Worley has a grounded, surname-feel typical of the late 19th century, similar to names like Harley or Wesley.
Worley is a transferred use of the English surname Worley, which has several possible origins. It may be a variant of Worthing, from the Old English 'weorth' (enclosure) and 'leah' (wood, clearing), or from any of several places named Worley in England. The name was recorded in the U.S. as a given name as early as the 1880s, but it has never been widespread.
Sibling names for Worley
Names that share Worley's style, for a brother or sister.
