Volley
A burst or exchange of many missiles or shots.
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Volley. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Volley today is around 95 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Volley births was 1922 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Volley. 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 Volley is about 95 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Volleys were born before 1941.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Volley. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1922
8 babies that year
Average age
95
years old
1942 SSA rank
#3,543
Tracked since 1922
Popularity
Volley: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Volley from the 1920s through to the 1940s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 8 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1920s peak, Volley remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Volley 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 Volley 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 Volley
The name Volley is derived from the Old French word "voler," which means "to fly." It originated in the 12th century and was initially used to describe a group of birds or arrows flying through the air. The name gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly in France and England, where it was often used as a surname for those involved in archery or hunting.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Volley can be found in the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, written in the late 14th century. In the "Nun's Priest's Tale," Chaucer mentions a character named Volley, describing him as a skilled archer and hunter.
During the Renaissance period, the name Volley became associated with the sport of tennis, which was initially played using the hands to volley the ball back and forth. In 1597, the English poet and playwright William Shakespeare used the term "volley" in his play "Henry V" to describe a tennis-like game played by the characters.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Volley was Volley Howard (1564-1635), an English courtier and member of Parliament during the reign of King James I. He was known for his skill in hunting and archery, which was reflected in his name.
Another individual named Volley was Volley Vaux (1590-1663), an English antiquarian and author who wrote extensively about the history and customs of his time. His works provide valuable insights into the social and cultural aspects of 17th-century England.
In the 18th century, Volley St. Clair (1716-1788) was a renowned French botanist and explorer who traveled extensively in South America, documenting and studying the region's flora and fauna. His contributions to the field of botany earned him widespread recognition and respect.
During the 19th century, Volley Dubois (1822-1898) was a prominent French artist known for his vivid landscape paintings depicting rural scenes and outdoor activities. His works capture the essence of the French countryside and the leisurely pursuits of the time.
Finally, Volley Campbell (1876-1957) was a Scottish novelist and playwright who gained popularity in the early 20th century. His works often explored themes of love, loss, and the human experience, resonating with readers across generations.
People
Volley + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Volley as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Volley: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Volley?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Volley 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 114,251,446 US residents.
Is Volley a common name?
We classify Volley as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 19 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Volley most popular?
The single biggest year for Volley was 1922, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Volley is about 95 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 Volley in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Volley a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Volley 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 Volley still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Volley 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 Volley 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 are called Volley?
You can see how many people share the name Volley on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.