Marley
Boy name · #1395 in 2025 · Uniqueness 80/100
Marley ranks #1395 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 131 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #859, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 13,740 boys born in 2025 was named Marley.
Babies named Marley per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 111-year story
Marley first appears in the Social Security records in 1914, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 291 boys were named Marley — good for #763 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Marley against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Marley in class?
Marley scores 80 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Marley will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Marley is most common
Geography matters for names, and Marley is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Marleys were CA (18), TX (15), FL (11), MD (8), NC (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Marley
Statistically, parents drawn to Marley tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Presley, Conley, Ridley, Henley, and Radley.
PresleyConleyRidleyHenleyRadleyKingsleyBerkleyWrigley
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Marley | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 131 | #1393 |
| 2024 | 164 | #1224 |
| 2023 | 166 | #1203 |
| 2022 | 184 | #1138 |
| 2021 | 180 | #1131 |
| 2020 | 234 | #942 |
| 2019 | 192 | #1063 |
| 2018 | 244 | #889 |
| 2017 | 220 | #947 |
| 2016 | 263 | #855 |
| 2015 | 262 | #859 |
| 2014 | 279 | #816 |
| 2013 | 239 | #878 |
| 2012 | 190 | #1027 |
| 2011 | 182 | #1043 |
| 2010 | 221 | #914 |
| 2009 | 286 | #789 |
| 2008 | 291 | #763 |
| 2007 | 139 | #1263 |
| 2006 | 133 | #1255 |
| 2005 | 93 | #1525 |
| 2004 | 76 | #1687 |
| 2003 | 84 | #1529 |
| 2002 | 78 | #1571 |
| 2001 | 60 | #1841 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Marley a popular boy name?
Marley ranked #1395 among boys in 2025 with 131 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #859.
When was the name Marley most popular?
Marley peaked in 2008, when 291 American boys received the name (ranked #763 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Marley?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 13,740 newborn American boys was named Marley. It scores 80/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.