Parley
A once nautical command for truce, now a given name suggesting discussion.
Name Census estimates that about 346 living Americans carry the first name Parley. It is a predominantly male name (99.1% of registrations). The average person named Parley today is around 32 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Parley births was 1918 (25 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Parley. 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.
People living today
346
~ 1 in 990,619 Americans
Peak year
1918
25 babies that year
Average age
32
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,619
Tracked since 1880
Gender
Gender distribution for Parley
Out of the 679 babies given the name Parley since 1880, 99.1% were registered as male. The name sits firmly on the male side of the spectrum, with only a handful of female registrations across the entire dataset.
Parley as a male name
- Ranked #9,619 in 2024
- 8 male births in 2024
- Peak: 1918 (25 births)
Parley as a female name
- Ranked #14,815 in 2021
- 6 female births in 2021
- Peak: 2021 (6 births)
Popularity
Parley: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Parley from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 14 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 126 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Parley 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 Parley during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Parleys live
Origin
Meaning and history of Parley
The name Parley is of English origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Old French verb "parler," meaning "to speak" or "to talk." The name likely originated as a descriptive term or nickname for someone who was known for their eloquence, persuasive speaking abilities, or perhaps as a mediator or negotiator.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Parley appears in the works of Shakespeare. In his play "The Merry Wives of Windsor," written around 1597, there is a character named Parley, although it is unclear if this was meant to be a given name or a nickname.
Historically, the name Parley has been associated with diplomacy and negotiations. In the 17th century, during the English Civil War, the term "parley" was used to describe a temporary truce or cease-fire between opposing forces to allow for negotiations or the exchange of prisoners.
One notable bearer of the name Parley was Parley Parker Pratt (1807-1857), an early leader and apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was known for his missionary work and writings, including his autobiography and a book titled "A Voice of Warning."
Another historical figure with the name Parley was Parley P. Pratt Jr. (1837-1897), the son of the aforementioned Parley P. Pratt. He was also an LDS Church leader and served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
In the 19th century, there was a British politician named Parley Chamberlayne (1816-1899), who served as a Member of Parliament for Southampton from 1868 to 1880.
A more recent figure with the name Parley was Parley Baer (1914-2002), an American actor known for his roles in television shows such as "The Andy Griffith Show" and "The Waltons."
While not a common name today, Parley has a rich history and connections to communication, diplomacy, and notable individuals throughout history.
People
Parley + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Parley as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Parley: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Parley?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 346 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Parley 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 990,619 US residents.
Is Parley a common name?
We classify Parley as "Very Rare". It ranks above 80.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 679 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Parley most popular?
The single biggest year for Parley was 1918, when 25 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Parley is about 32 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Parley a male name?
Yes, 99.1% of people registered as Parley 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.
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.