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    The first name Oakley

    A unisex name from English meaning “oak”, “woodland clearing”, “glade”.

    Pronounced /ˈoʊkli/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Oakley means “oak”, “woodland clearing”, “glade” in English.

    From Old English Āclēa, from āc (“oak”) + lēah (“woodland clearing, glade”), thus a clearing in an oak forest; equivalent to oak + -ley (“lea”). Compare Ackley, Akeley and Oakleigh, which have the same origin.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 1,377 boys were named Oakley, making it the 33rd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2024, with 1,432 births (#34).

    01,0002,000 1996200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    11,639
    babies named Oakley, 1996–2025
    #33
    rank in 2025
    2024
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Oakley with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Oakley at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 1,933 girls born in the United States were named Oakley, the 156th most popular girls’ name that year.

    01,0002,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    26,745
    babies named Oakley since 1880
    #156
    rank in 2025
    2025
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Oakley

    3 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Oakley Hall
      American novelist, 1920–2008
    • Oakley C. Curtis
      American politician (1865–1924)
    • Central Cee
      British rapper (born 1998)

    More English unisex names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Oakley mean?
    Oakley means “oak”, “woodland clearing”, “glade” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Oakley?
    From Old English Āclēa, from āc (“oak”) + lēah (“woodland clearing, glade”), thus a clearing in an oak forest; equivalent to oak + -ley (“lea”). Compare Ackley, Akeley and Oakleigh, which have the same origin.
    How popular is the name Oakley?
    In 2025, 1,377 boys born in England and Wales were named Oakley, ranking 33rd. Its peak was 2024, with 1,432 births.
    Is Oakley a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 26,745 US babies named Oakley since 1880, 57% were girls and 43% boys.
    When was Oakley most popular?
    2025 in the United States, when 1,933 babies were named Oakley, its highest rank at 156th.
    How do you pronounce Oakley?
    Oakley is /ˈoʊkli/, 2 syllables.
    Is Oakley also a surname?
    Yes. Oakley is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.