Yarley
A unique invented name, possibly an elaboration on the unisex name Yari.
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Yarley. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Yarley today is around 21 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Yarley births was 2005 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Yarley. 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 Yarley. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
2005
6 babies that year
Average age
21
years old
2005 SSA rank
#11,430
Tracked since 2005
Popularity
Yarley: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Yarley 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 Yarley during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Yarley
The name Yarley is believed to have its origins in the ancient Germanic languages, likely derived from the Old Norse word "yarla," which referred to an earl or nobleman. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the 9th century in Scandinavia, where it was used as a title for men of high rank and authority.
During the Viking Age, between the 8th and 11th centuries, the name Yarley gained popularity among Norse settlers in regions such as Iceland, Greenland, and parts of modern-day Scotland and England. It was often associated with individuals of noble descent or those who held significant power and influence within their communities.
One notable historical figure bearing the name Yarley was Yarley Haakonsson, a Norwegian earl who lived in the late 10th century. He was a prominent figure during the reign of King Olaf Tryggvason and played a crucial role in the Christianization of Norway. Another historical figure was Yarley Rognvaldsson, an Icelandic chieftain who lived in the 11th century and was known for his role in establishing settlements in Greenland.
In the Middle Ages, the name Yarley appeared in various forms and spellings, such as "Yerley," "Yerli," and "Earley," reflecting the linguistic changes and regional variations that occurred over time. It was particularly common in areas with strong Norse influences, such as parts of England and Scotland.
One notable bearer of the name during this period was Yarley de Beaumont, an English nobleman who lived in the 12th century and served as a knight under King Richard I during the Third Crusade. Another historical figure was Yarley of Orkney, a 13th-century Scottish earl who ruled over the Orkney Islands.
As the name spread across Europe, it underwent further transformations and adaptations. In the 16th century, Yarley Eriksson was a Swedish military commander who played a significant role in the Northern Seven Years' War against Denmark and Poland. In the 17th century, Yarley Oxenstierna was a prominent Swedish statesman and diplomat who served as the Lord High Chancellor of Sweden.
While the name Yarley has become less common in modern times, it still holds historical significance and a connection to its noble and influential roots in ancient Germanic and Norse cultures.
People
Yarley + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Yarley as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Y
Other first names starting with Y with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Yarley: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Yarley?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Yarley 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Yarley a common name?
We classify Yarley as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Yarley most popular?
The single biggest year for Yarley was 2005, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Yarley is about 21 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 Yarley in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Yarley a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Yarley 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 Yarley still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Yarley 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 Yarley 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 Americans are named Yarley?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.