Find out how popular the first name Manley has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Manley by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Manley is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Manley.

The history of the first name Manley

The name Manley has its origins in Old English, derived from the words "mann" meaning "man" and "leah" meaning "woodland clearing" or "meadow." It was initially used as a surname to denote someone who lived in a woodland clearing or a meadow. The earliest recorded use of Manley as a given name dates back to the 13th century in England.

During the Middle Ages, the name Manley was particularly prevalent in the counties of Cheshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire in northern England. It was often associated with families who owned land or estates in these regions. Some historical records suggest that the name may have been used by Anglo-Saxon nobility or landowners.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the name Manley was Sir Manley de Bredbury, a knight who lived in the 13th century and was associated with the manor of Bredbury in Cheshire. Another notable historical figure was Manley Power, an English politician and Member of Parliament for Stafford in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, Manley Stanhope (1623-1676) was a prominent English politician and diplomat who served as the English ambassador to Spain. During the same period, Manley Foster (1628-1681) was an English Baptist minister and an influential figure in the early Baptist movement.

Moving into the 18th century, Manley Wood (1711-1795) was a British politician and Member of Parliament for Newcastle-under-Lyme. He was also a notable landowner and industrialist in Staffordshire.

In the literary world, Mary de la Rivière Manley (1663-1724) was an English novelist and playwright known for her scandalous and satirical works, such as "The New Atalantis" and "The Lost Lover."

While the name Manley has been less common in recent times, it has maintained its presence throughout history, particularly in Britain and areas with strong English cultural influences.

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 Manley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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