Farley
From Old English fearn (“fern”) + lēah (“woodland”).
Every Farley since 1884 — 1,097 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Farley
Farley is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1884, 1,097 American babies have been named Farley. Its peak came in 1952, when 39 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Farley stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Farley year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | 7 | #12,599 | 10 | #7,944 |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — | 6 | #11,307 |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | 5 | #12,661 |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | — | — | — | — |
| 2013 | — | — | — | — |
| 2012 | — | — | — | — |
| 2011 | — | — | 5 | #12,900 |
| 2010 | — | — | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | — | — | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — | — | — |
| 2005 | — | — | — | — |
| 2004 | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | — | — | — | — |
| 2002 | — | — | — | — |
| 2001 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | 13 | #4,248 |
| 1985 | — | — | 6 | #6,029 |
| 1980 | — | — | 5 | #6,575 |
| 1975 | — | — | 8 | #4,064 |
| 1970 | — | — | 14 | #2,544 |
| 1965 | — | — | 24 | #1,603 |
| 1960 | — | — | 29 | #1,495 |
| 1955 | — | — | 39 | #1,203 |
| 1950 | — | — | 13 | #2,141 |
| 1945 | — | — | 14 | #1,878 |
| 1940 | — | — | 6 | #3,240 |
| 1935 | — | — | 12 | #2,168 |
| 1930 | — | — | 7 | #3,396 |
| 1925 | — | — | 12 | #2,485 |
| 1920 | — | — | 14 | #2,255 |
| 1915 | — | — | 8 | #2,914 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Farley
- Farley Granger Actor · 1925–2011
- Farley Mowat Writer · 1921–2014
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Farley mean?
From Old English fearn (“fern”) + lēah (“woodland”).
How popular is the name Farley in 2025?
Farley did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Farley?
1,097 babies have been named Farley in the United States since 1884, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Farley most popular?
Farley peaked in 1952, when 39 newborns received the name.
Is Farley a boy or girl name?
Farley is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 98% of babies with the name.
Is the name Farley rising or falling?
Farley is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Farley?
Well-known people named Farley include Farley Granger (actor), Farley Mowat (writer).