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:
- Amelia (work)
- Everly (wild boar in woodland clearing)
- Etta (estate ruler)
- Nell (bright, shining one)
- Dove (the bird)
- Jolette (youthful)
- Wren (small bird)
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)