Find out how popular the first name Isley has been for the last 34 years (from 1990 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Isley by gender

Based on the last 34 years of data, Isley is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 80% of people named Isley being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 63 female babies and 13 male babies born with the name Isley.

The history of the first name Isley

The name Isley has its origins rooted in the ancient Germanic languages, traced back to the Old English and Old Norse words "is" meaning "ice" and "ley" meaning "wood" or "clearing." It essentially translates to "ice wood" or "ice clearing." This name was primarily used in regions where Germanic tribes and settlers resided during the early medieval period, including parts of modern-day England, Germany, and Scandinavia.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Isley can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions an individual named Isley, who was a landowner in the county of Essex, England.

In the 12th century, a notable figure named Isley de Courcy was a Norman knight who participated in the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169. He was granted lands in Ulster and became a prominent figure in the region.

During the Renaissance period, Isley Ramsey, an English mathematician and astronomer born in 1594, made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. He is credited with developing methods for calculating the orbits of comets and planets.

In the 18th century, Isley Walton, an English poet and playwright born in 1742, gained recognition for his works, including the play "The Vindictive Man" and a collection of poems titled "Poetical Miscellanies."

Isley Granger, born in 1876, was a French explorer and ethnographer who conducted extensive research on the indigenous cultures of West Africa. His writings and documentation of these societies have been invaluable in understanding their traditions and way of life.

While the name Isley has been more commonly used as a surname in modern times, it has a rich historical background as a given name, reflecting its roots in the ancient Germanic languages and the cultural influences of various regions throughout history.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Isley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Isley, please contact us.

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