Marley is a modern English name that is unisex but is far more commonly a girl’s name. The name only became a popular given name in 1994 and popularity has been declining since 2008. Despite this, Marley is still a fun, quirky name with a beautiful meaning that makes it a good choice for any baby.

Meaning of the name Marley:

English: pleasant wood, pleasant seaside meadow

Origin of the name Marley:

Marley is a unisex modern English baby name derived from an Old English surname. The name means “pleasant wood” or “pleasant seaside meadow”.

Symbolism of the name Marley:

Marley is a name with strong associations with nature. The woods or meadows tie this name to wild places untamed by man.

Style of the name Marley:

modern

Gender of the name Marley:

Marley is a unisex name — it's used for both boys and girls.

Pronunciation of the name Marley:

MAHR-lee

Number of syllables in the name Marley:

two

Emotion evoked from the name Marley:

Marley evokes feelings of peace and kindness.

Alternative spellings for the name Marley:

Marlee, Marly

Nicknames for the name Marley:

Popularity of the name Marley:

According to the Social Security Administration, Marley is a modern unisex baby name. As a girl’s name, Marley first became popular in 1994 and peaked at #145 in 2008. As a boy’s name, Marley first became popular in 2008 when it peaked at #765 and it fell to #942 in 2020.

Related names for the name Marley:

Great middle names for the name Marley and their meanings:

Boy:

  • Kit (pure, baby fox)
  • Jett (excellence)
  • Nash (by the ash tree)
  • Hayes (hedged)
  • Kent (edged)
  • Branton (sword)

Girl:

Famous people with the name Marley:

  • Marley Eve Shelton (American actress)
  • Bob Marley (Jamaican reggae musician)
  • John Marley (English mining engineer)

Marleys in popular culture:

  • Marley Rose (television, “Glee”)
  • Marley Love (television, “Another World”)
  • Jacob Marley, (“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens)