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    The first name Stanley

    A boy’s name from English meaning “stone”, “meadow”, “lea”.

    Pronounced /ˈstænli/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Stanley means “stone”, “meadow”, “lea” in English.

    From places in England, Old English stān (“stone”) + lēah (“meadow”). Equivalent to stone + -ley (“lea”). * The given name has also been used as an anglicisation of Stanisław, Stanislav and related names. The coastal town in Hong Kong is named after Edward Henry Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby.

    More names that mean mountain.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 536 boys were named Stanley, making it the 97th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2015, with 1,078 births (#59).

    01,0002,000 1996200020052010201520202025
    16,890
    babies named Stanley, 1996–2025
    #97
    rank in 2025
    2015
    peak year

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

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Stanley at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 278 boys born in the United States were named Stanley, the 863rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1954, when 6,448 were.

    03,5007,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    302,862
    babies named Stanley since 1880
    #863
    rank in 2025
    1954
    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.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Stanley

    Famous people named Stanley

    175 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Stanley Kubrick
      American filmmaker (1928–1999)
    • Stanley Baldwin
      British statesman (1867–1947)
    • Stanley Tucci
      American actor and author (born 1960)
    • Stanley Cohen
      American biochemist, 1922–2020
    • Stanley B. Prusiner
      American neurologist and biochemist, born 1942
    • Stanley Matthews
      English association football player (1915-2000)
    • Stanley Milgram
      American social psychologist (1933–1984)
    • William Stanley Jevons
      English economist and logician, 1835–1882
    • Stanley Kramer
      American film director and producer (1913-2001)
    • Stanley Rous
      6th President of FIFA (1895–1986)
    • Stanley Donen
      American film director and choreographer (1924-2019)
    • Kim Stanley Robinson
      American science fiction writer (born 1952)

    More English boys’ names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Stanley mean?
    Stanley means “stone”, “meadow”, “lea” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Stanley?
    From places in England, Old English stān (“stone”) + lēah (“meadow”). Equivalent to stone + -ley (“lea”). * The given name has also been used as an anglicisation of Stanisław, Stanislav and related names. The coastal town in Hong Kong is named after Edward Henry Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby.
    How popular is the name Stanley?
    In 2025, 536 boys born in England and Wales were named Stanley, ranking 97th. Its peak was 2015, with 1,078 births.
    What are nicknames for Stanley?
    Common nicknames for Stanley include Stan.
    Is Stanley a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 302,862 US babies named Stanley since 1880 were boys.
    When was Stanley most popular?
    1954 in the United States, when 6,448 babies were named Stanley, its highest rank at 58th.
    How do you pronounce Stanley?
    Stanley is /ˈstænli/, 2 syllables.
    Is Stanley also a surname?
    Yes. Stanley is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.