Schley
German masculine name meaning "small wooden hut" or "cabin in the woods".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Schley. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Schley today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Schley births was 1898 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Schley. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Schley. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1898
10 babies that year
Average age
-
1898 SSA rank
#737
Tracked since 1898
Popularity
Schley: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Schley 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 Schley during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Schley
The name Schley is a German surname with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated from the German word "schlei," which means "bend" or "curve," referring to a geographical feature such as a river bend or a winding road.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Schley can be traced back to the 13th century in various German regions, including Bavaria and Saxony. It was initially used as a locational surname, indicating that the bearer resided near a notable bend or curve in a river or road.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the name Schley was Johann Schley, a German knight who lived in the late 13th century. Historical records mention his participation in the Crusades and his service under the Holy Roman Emperor.
In the 16th century, the name Schley gained prominence with the birth of Michael Schley (1492-1555), a German Protestant theologian and educator. He was a prominent figure during the Reformation and played a significant role in the spread of Lutheranism in Germany.
Another notable figure with the name Schley was Winfield Scott Schley (1839-1911), an American naval officer who served in the American Civil War and the Spanish-American War. He is best known for his role in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba, where he commanded the Flying Squadron.
In the 20th century, the name Schley was associated with John Thomas Schley (1904-1995), an American diplomat who served as the Ambassador to the United Nations from 1960 to 1962. He played a crucial role in the negotiation of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
Another individual with the name Schley who left a lasting impact was Reginald Schley (1917-2005), a British actor and playwright. He was renowned for his performances on stage and in films, including his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the 1972 film "Young Winston."
While the name Schley has German origins, it has been adopted and used in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries due to immigration and cultural exchange. However, its historical roots and significance can be traced back to the German regions where it first emerged.
People
Schley + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Schley as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Schley: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Schley?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Schley 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 - US residents.
Is Schley a common name?
We classify Schley as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Schley most popular?
The single biggest year for Schley was 1898, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Schley is about 0 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 Schley in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Schley a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Schley 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 Schley still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Schley 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 Schley 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 Schley as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.