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Ensley

♀ Girl

Pronounced ENZ-lee /ˈɛnz.li/High

Meaning: A modern American given name, likely derived from an English place name or surname meaning 'Ean's meadow' or 'clearing of the solitary one', combining an Old English personal name with leah (meadow, woodland clearing)Medium

In 30 seconds: Ensley is a modern American name with Old English place-name roots, evoking a meadow clearing. Its gentle two-syllable sound and the popular -ley/-sley ending give it a feminine charm that fits modern naming trends.
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Origin MediumOld English, American English
MeaningA modern American given name, likely derived from an English place name or surname meaning 'Ean's meadow' or 'clearing of the solitary one', combining an Old English personal name with leah (meadow, woodland clearing)
U.S. rank (2025)#845 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births322 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2020
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,792

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202019972025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Ensley appears to derive from an English place name or surname following the common Old English pattern of personal name + leah (meadow, woodland clearing). The opening element may relate to Old English Ean or a similar personal name. It is also a neighborhood name in Birmingham, Alabama, established in the late 19th century during the steel boom. As a given name it is a modern American coinage.

Ensley emerged in U.S. name data in the 21st century, part of the broad family of -ley/-sley names popular for girls, including Ainsley, Kinsley, Presley, and Hartley. Its sound is similar to Ainsley but distinguished by the E- opening and the slightly harder -nz- sound. It has appeared most prominently in the South and Midwest.

Did you know? Ensley is also the name of a historic neighborhood in Birmingham, Alabama, once home to a thriving steel industry — giving the name a connection to American industrial history alongside its meadow-name softness.
Overall data confidence 70%
Old English place-name elements — leah — meadow/clearing suffixU.S. Social Security Administration — Ensley name frequency data

Variations

EnsleeEnsleigh

Nicknames

EnsLee

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Ensley…

Ainsley— same -nsley ending and the Old English meadow-name heritage
Kinsley— shares the two-syllable -sley sound and the modern girls name trend
Presley— fellow -sley name with an American surname feel for girls
Hartley— same -ley ending and the English place-name-as-given-name style

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ensley mean?

Ensley likely derives from an Old English place name meaning Ean's meadow or clearing of the solitary one.

How do you pronounce Ensley?

It is said ENZ-lee, with two syllables.

Is Ensley a popular name?

Ensley is a modern name that has appeared on U.S. charts in recent years as part of the -sley name family.

What names are similar to Ensley?

Names with a similar sound and style include Ainsley, Kinsley, and Presley.