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Home › Baby Names Directory › Morley

Morley

♀ Girl

Pronounced MOR-lee /ˈmɔr.li/High

Meaning: Morley comes from an English surname drawn from several places of the same name, formed from Old English mor, 'moor; marshy ground', and leah, 'clearing; wood-meadow' — so 'clearing on the moor'. As a given name it has leaned to boys; used here for a girl, and we note the lean.Medium

In 30 seconds: A windswept English surname name: Morley means 'clearing on the moor' (said 'MOR-lee'). More often a boy's name — we note the lean.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningMorley comes from an English surname drawn from several places of the same name, formed from Old English mor, 'moor; marshy ground', and leah, 'clearing; wood-meadow' — so 'clearing on the moor'. As a given name it has leaned to boys; used here for a girl, and we note the lean.
U.S. rank (2024)#14670 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 48

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202119252024

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Morley is an English surname taken from places in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and beyond, built from Old English mor, 'moor', and leah, 'clearing'. As a given name it followed the usual surname route into first-name use, and has been used chiefly for boys; for girls it fits neatly beside Marley and Harlow, though we note the boy-lean honestly. Rare and breezy (said 'MOR-lee').

For girls it appears only rarely in the U.S., against heavier boys' use. Rare, surname-style, and airy.

Did you know? Morley is a place before it is a person: dozens of English villages carry the name, each one a clearing set on open moorland. It has leaned to boys as a first name, which we note (said 'MOR-lee').
Overall data confidence 58%
References — Morley — English surname/place name; Old English mor + leah; boy-leaning

Variations

MorleeMarleyMorleigh

Nicknames

MoMory

Famous Bearers

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If you like Morley…

Marley— a near-twin in sound and style
Harlow— a like English surname name for girls
Everly— a like breezy -ly ending
Kinsley— a like modern surname pick

Explore names like Morley

By themeenglishcross-sexsurname-stylenature-adjacent

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Morley mean?

Morley is an English surname and place name meaning 'clearing on the moor', from Old English mor and leah.

How do you pronounce Morley?

It's said MOR-lee /ˈmɔr.li/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Morley a boy or girl name?

Morley has been used more often for boys. It is used here as a girl's name, and we note the lean honestly.

How popular is Morley?

Morley is a rare name for girls in the U.S.

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