The nameMarley
Marley is a name of English origin meaning "pleasant meadow". Bob Marley made it famous worldwide.
- Unisex name
- English
Meaning
Marley comes from Old English place names, perhaps from myrig, "pleasant", or mere, "lake", and leah, "wood, meadow".
Origin
English. Marley was a surname and place name before becoming a first name.
History
Bob Marley, the Jamaican reggae star, made the name famous. Marley is given to boys in Britain and mostly to girls in the United States. Jacob Marley is the ghost of Dickens's A Christmas Carol.
Famous people named Marley
- Bob Marley, musician (surname)
- Marley Shelton, actress
- Jacob Marley, A Christmas Carol character
Popularity of the name Marley
Marley in the United States
Marley was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 16,524 births over the decade, 44% of all recorded babies named Marley. Its rise began around 1997, and it peaked in 2008. Half of all babies named Marley in the United States were born before 2013, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,404 births a year on average, against 1,681 in the five years before.
Marley in the United Kingdom
Marley was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 4,436 births over the decade, 42% of all recorded babies named Marley. Half of all babies named Marley in the United Kingdom were born before 2016, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 584 births a year on average, against 464 in the five years before.
Marley in France
Sibling names for Marley
Names from the same generation as Marley, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Marley? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Marley with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Marley side by side with the name of your choice.
Marley in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Marley mean?
Marley comes from Old English place names, perhaps from myrig, "pleasant", or mere, "lake", and leah, "wood, meadow".
What is the origin of the name Marley?
English. Marley was a surname and place name before becoming a first name.
Is Marley a girl's or a boy's name?
Marley is a unisex name, given to both girls and boys. In the United States, 86% of the babies named Marley are girls.
How popular is the name Marley?
In 2024, Marley was the 287th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 1,100 births.
What are good sibling names for Marley?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Serenity, Lilly, Lila and Maddison for a sister, Colton, Bryson, Cooper and Wyatt for a brother.
Who are famous people named Marley?
Bob Marley, musician (surname); Marley Shelton, actress; Jacob Marley, A Christmas Carol character.