Presly
A feminine variant of the surname Presley, of English origin.
Name Census estimates that about 145 living Americans carry the first name Presly. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Presly today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Presly births was 2007 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Presly. 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
145
~ 1 in 2,363,823 Americans
Peak year
2007
16 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2017 SSA rank
#17,832
Tracked since 2001
Popularity
Presly: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Presly from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 82 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Presly remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Presly 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 Presly during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Presly
The name Presly is believed to have originated in the English language, with its roots dating back to the late 18th century. It is thought to be a variant or diminutive form of the name Presley, which itself is derived from the Old English word "preost" meaning "priest" and the suffix "-leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing."
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Presly can be found in the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Gloucestershire, England, where a child named Presly Jones was baptized in 1798. This suggests that the name was already in use, albeit likely as a surname, by the end of the 18th century.
In terms of historical references, the name Presly does not appear to have any significant mentions in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records. However, its parent name, Presley, has been recorded in various historical documents throughout the centuries.
Some notable individuals who have borne the first name Presly throughout history include:
1. Presly Neville (1589-1644), an English politician and member of the House of Commons during the reign of King Charles I.
2. Presly Downing (1715-1789), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the mid-18th century.
3. Presly Canning (1771-1824), a British statesman and politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1827 until his death in 1827.
4. Presly Wilkinson (1835-1907), an American author and poet known for his works on nature and outdoor life.
5. Presly Underwood (1888-1962), an American baseball player who played in the Major Leagues during the early 20th century.
While the name Presly has seen some usage throughout history, it has remained relatively uncommon compared to its parent name, Presley. However, its unique sound and connection to English heritage have likely contributed to its enduring appeal as a first name choice for parents seeking a distinctive and meaningful name for their child.
People
Presly + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Presly 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
Presly: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Presly?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 145 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Presly 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 2,363,823 US residents.
Is Presly a common name?
We classify Presly as "Very Rare". It ranks above 69.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 147 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Presly most popular?
The single biggest year for Presly was 2007, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Presly is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Presly a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Presly in the SSA data are female. 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.