Marley
Boy name · #1395 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Marley? In official American birth records, Marley has been tracked continuously since 1914, giving it 111 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Marley is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". 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. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Marley is most common in FL (0.1 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Marley is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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
How old is the name Marley?
In official American birth records, the name Marley first appeared in 1914 (over 111 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 111 years.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.