Marley Name Meaning & Origin | Middle Names For Marley

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Marley

Marley is a modern English name that is unisex but is far more commonly a girl’s name. The name only became a popular given name in 1994 and popularity has been declining since 2008. Despite this, Marley is still a fun, quirky name with a beautiful meaning that makes it a good choice for any baby.

Meaning and Origin of the name Marley:

Marley is a great name for a boy or girl. It has English origins and means “pleasant wood,” “marshy meadow,” and “pleasant wood.”

Marley is a unisex modern English baby name derived from an Anglo-Saxon surname which originated in the 12th century. Marley gained popularity as a first name in the 20th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words “maer” (meaning “a boundary”) and “leah” (meaning “clearing, open ground”). The surname refers to someone who lived near a boundary or clearing.

Symbolism of the name Marley:

Marley is a name with strong associations with nature. The woods or meadows tie this name to wild places untamed by man.

Nicknames for the name Marley:

Marley is a great name, and it's adorable. If you want a nickname for Marley, the list below is a great place to start. You have several options when it comes to nicknames for your baby boy or girl named Marley. Check out our list and pick your favorite.

• Mar
• Mars
• Marl
• Marls
• Mari
• Merle
• Lee
• Lili

Style of the name Marley:

Modern

Gender of the name Marley:

Marley is a unisex name — it's used for both boys and girls.

Pronunciation of the name Marley:

MAHR-lee

Number of syllables in the name Marley:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Marley:

Marley evokes feelings of peace and kindness.

Alternative spellings for the name Marley:

• Marlee
• Marly

Popularity of the name Marley:

According to the Social Security Administration, Marley is a modern unisex baby name. As a girl’s name, Marley first became popular in 1994 and peaked at #145 in 2008. As a boy’s name, Marley first became popular in 2008 when it peaked at #765 and it fell to #942 in 2020.

Related names for the name Marley:

• Merle
• Marcy
• Marcella
• Harley
• Parker
• Hadley

Great middle names for the name Marley and their meanings:

Boy:

• Kit (pure, baby fox)
• Jett (excellence)
• Nash (by the ash tree)
• Hayes (hedged)
• Kent (edged)
• Branton (sword)

Girl:

• Amelia (work)
• Everly (wild boar in woodland clearing)
• Etta (estate ruler)
• Nell (bright, shining one)
• Dove (the bird)
• Jolette (youthful)
• Wren (small bird)

Famous people with the name Marley:

• Marley Eve Shelton (American actress)
• Bob Marley (Jamaican reggae musician)
• John Marley (English mining engineer)

Marleys in popular culture:

• Marley Rose (television, “Glee”)
• Marley Love (television, “Another World”)
• Jacob Marley, (“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens)

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Katie Groves/Shutterstock.com

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