The name Arley is of Old English origin, derived from the words "ærn" meaning "house" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." It dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, around the 5th to 11th centuries AD. The name was initially used as a place name, referring to a meadow or clearing near a house or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a medieval survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions "Ardelege" or "Ardelie," which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the name Arley.

In the Middle Ages, the name Arley was predominantly used as a surname, referring to people who lived in or originated from a place called Arley. However, over time, it transitioned into a given name, particularly in England and parts of the United States.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Arley was Arley Armstrong (1899-1962), an American baseball player who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and the Washington Senators in the 1920s and 1930s.

Another prominent figure was Arley Munson (1899-1957), an American diplomat and ambassador to New Zealand from 1949 to 1952, during the Truman administration.

In the literary world, Arley Brent (1890-1963) was an American author and journalist known for his novels and short stories set in the American West.

Arley Bjork (1903-1989) was a Swedish-American engineer and inventor who held numerous patents, including those for the first self-regulating aircraft engine and a method for producing synthetic rubber.

Arley Dougherty (1905-1995) was an American baseball player who played for the New York Giants in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

While the name Arley has been more prevalent in the United States and parts of the United Kingdom, its roots can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, originating as a place name before evolving into a given name over centuries.