Okley
A masculine given name of uncertain meaning and origin.
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Okley. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Okley today is around 82 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Okley births was 1922 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Okley. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Okley is about 82 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Okleys were born before 1954.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Okley. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
1922
16 babies that year
Average age
82
years old
1957 SSA rank
#3,860
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Okley: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Okley from the 1910s through to the 1950s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 74 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Okley by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Okley during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Okleys live
Origin
Meaning and history of Okley
The given name Okley is a rare and enigmatic moniker, shrouded in mystery and obscurity. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Germanic tribes that roamed the vast expanses of Europe during the early medieval period. Linguists suggest that the name may have its roots in the Old Saxon word "oki," which translates to "oak" or "oak tree," a symbol of strength, endurance, and resilience in many ancient cultures.
Okley's linguistic journey is a winding path through the annals of history. Some scholars theorize that it may be a variation of the Old English name "Ocley," which itself is a derivative of the Old Norse word "okr," meaning "usury" or "interest." This connection could hint at a potential association with trade, commerce, or financial dealings in the name's early usage.
Historical records of the name Okley are scarce, but a few notable figures stand out. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Okley the Scribe, a monk who lived in the 9th century and was renowned for his exceptional calligraphic skills. His intricate manuscripts adorned the libraries of monasteries throughout the British Isles.
In the 12th century, a knight named Sir Okley de Montfort gained fame for his valiant exploits during the Crusades. His bravery and unwavering loyalty to the Christian cause earned him a place in the chronicles of the time, cementing the name's association with chivalry and honor.
The 16th century saw the rise of Okley Fairfax, a renowned English poet and playwright whose works explored the complexities of human emotions and the vagaries of love. His lyrical verses and insightful plays captivated audiences across the land, solidifying his place in the annals of English literature.
As the centuries rolled on, the name Okley remained a rare and enigmatic choice, appearing sporadically in historical records. One such notable figure was Okley Pendleton, a pioneering American explorer who ventured into the uncharted wilderness of the American West in the early 19th century. His daring expeditions and detailed accounts of the vast landscapes and indigenous cultures he encountered have become invaluable records of a bygone era.
In the realm of science, the name Okley found its way into the history books through the contributions of Okley Whitaker, a brilliant physicist and mathematician who lived in the late 19th century. His groundbreaking work in the field of quantum mechanics laid the foundation for many of the scientific advancements that followed, earning him a place among the great minds of his time.
While the name Okley may be shrouded in mystery, its enduring presence throughout history speaks to its resilience and the remarkable individuals who have carried it forward. From scribes and knights to poets and explorers, the name has woven itself into the tapestry of human civilization, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of time.
People
Okley + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Okley as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Okley: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Okley?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Okley going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Okley a common name?
We classify Okley as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 129 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Okley most popular?
The single biggest year for Okley was 1922, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Okley is about 82 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Okley in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Okley a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Okley in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Okley still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Okley in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Okley can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Okley as a first name?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.