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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Moorland clearing (moor + wood/clearing)
- Origin
- Old English (surname)
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- MOR-lee
Morley began as an Old English surname, drawn from the words for moor and wood or clearing, so it literally points to a moorland clearing. It's a name with a plainspoken, place-based origin rather than a decorative one. If you're weighing it for a child, the meaning here is settled fact, not folklore.
Meaning & Origin of Morley
Meaning: Moorland clearing (moor + wood/clearing).
Origin: Old English (surname).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Morley
MOR-leeIPA /ˈmɔːrli/
Popularity of Morley
Morley peaked at #1622 on the SSA charts back in 1909, when 5 babies were given the name, and by 2024 it had fallen to #14670 with just 6 recorded. Over more than a century of data, it's stayed a rarely used name rather than following any rise-and-fall trend.
Names Like Morley
These names have followed a similar path to Morley in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Morley mean?
Moorland clearing (moor + wood/clearing). (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Morley?
Morley is pronounced MOR-lee (IPA: /ˈmɔːrli/).
Is Morley a popular name right now?
Morley peaked at #1622 in 1909 and is ranked #14670 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1909–2024.)
Make Morley Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Morley, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Morley? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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