Morley
From Old English mor (“moor”) + leah (“wood”).
Every Morley since 1909 — 566 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Morley
Morley 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 1909, 566 American babies have been named Morley — about 92% boys and 8% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1925, when 24 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
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 Morley stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Morley 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 | 6 | #14,722 | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | 5 | #16,986 | — | — |
| 2021 | 8 | #11,855 | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | 5 | #18,404 | — | — |
| 2013 | — | — | — | — |
| 2012 | 5 | #18,701 | — | — |
| 2011 | 5 | #18,704 | — | — |
| 2010 | 7 | #14,497 | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — | 6 | #12,091 |
| 2007 | — | — | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — | — | — |
| 2005 | — | — | — | — |
| 2004 | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | — | — | — | — |
| 2002 | — | — | — | — |
| 2001 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | 5 | #4,266 |
| 1960 | — | — | 6 | #3,930 |
| 1955 | — | — | 6 | #3,763 |
| 1950 | — | — | 9 | #2,712 |
| 1945 | — | — | 8 | #2,696 |
| 1940 | — | — | 13 | #2,054 |
| 1935 | — | — | 13 | #2,098 |
| 1930 | — | — | 15 | #2,036 |
| 1925 | 7 | #4,308 | 17 | #1,986 |
| 1920 | — | — | 18 | #1,937 |
| 1915 | — | — | 11 | #2,401 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Morley mean?
From Old English mor (“moor”) + leah (“wood”).
How popular is the name Morley in 2025?
Morley 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 Morley?
566 babies have been named Morley in the United States since 1909, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Morley most popular?
Morley peaked in 1925, when 24 newborns received the name.
Is Morley a boy or girl name?
Morley is used for both: about 8% of babies named Morley have been girls and 92% boys.
Is the name Morley rising or falling?
Morley has been roughly stable over the past decade.