Stanley Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Stanley is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Stanley?
Stanley is spelled S-T-A-N-L-E-Y. The name has 7 letters.
Stanley at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Stanley means “stone clearing” or “stony field” derived from Old English elements.
- Origin
- Stanley is an English name commonly considered to derive from Old English words meaning “stone” and “clearing” or “field.”
- Pronunciation
- STAN-lee · 2 syllables
Stanley Popularity in 2025
Rank#863
Recorded Births278
- Boys usage rose 6 places to #863 and recorded the same number of births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Stanley Mean?
Stanley means “stone clearing” or “stony field” derived from Old English elements.
Origin: Stanley is an English name commonly considered to derive from Old English words meaning “stone” and “clearing” or “field.”
How Do You Pronounce Stanley?
PronunciationSTAN-lee
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Stanley?
- History
- Stanley has been used as a surname and a given name in England since at least the medieval period. It has appeared in historical records and place names.
Stanley Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 278 | #863 |
| 2024 | Boys | 278 | #869 |
| 2023 | Boys | 304 | #807 |
| 2022 | Boys | 325 | #777 |
| 2021 | Boys | 312 | #788 |
| 2020 | Boys | 335 | #734 |
| 2019 | Boys | 377 | #680 |
| 2018 | Boys | 344 | #703 |
| 2017 | Boys | 351 | #702 |
| 2016 | Boys | 367 | #683 |
| 2015 | Boys | 365 | #687 |
| 2014 | Boys | 372 | #680 |
| 2013 | Boys | 355 | #679 |
| 2012 | Boys | 315 | #735 |
| 2011 | Boys | 348 | #676 |
| 2010 | Boys | 347 | #681 |
| 2009 | Boys | 359 | #676 |
| 2008 | Boys | 370 | #657 |
| 2007 | Boys | 398 | #619 |
| 2006 | Boys | 404 | #600 |
| 2005 | Boys | 410 | #569 |
| 2004 | Boys | 413 | #555 |
| 2003 | Boys | 405 | #552 |
| 2002 | Boys | 472 | #487 |
When Was Stanley Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1954 · Boys
6,448 recorded births
National rank #58
1953 · Boys
6,275 recorded births
National rank #62
1952 · Boys
6,226 recorded births
National rank #58
1951 · Boys
6,205 recorded births
National rank #54
Where Stanley Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MI | #487 | 17 |
| CO | #501 | 11 |
| MO | #518 | 11 |
| MN | #552 | 9 |
| WA | #576 | 12 |
| WI | #618 | 7 |
| MD | #634 | 7 |
| NY | #692 | 21 |