Entry № 0277 · English origin

Marley Marley — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ MAR-lee /
Gender
Girl
Origin
English
Meaning
"Pleasant wood, marten meadow"
Syllables
2
Rank · US 2025
№ 287
First recorded
Modern as given name

A name that means "pleasant wood, marten meadow".

Marley comes from an English surname meaning "pleasant wood" or "marten meadow" — from Old English roots. Bob Marley (1945-1981), the Jamaican reggae icon, made the name globally famous.

Marley entered the U.S. top 1000 as a girls' name in 1996 and has been climbing. Today it sits in the U.S. top 300.

Pleasant wood. The reggae icon's surname turned girl's name.

Where Marley stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 287 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 247 in 2018
Babies named Marley · last year
1,124 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
1996
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · №247 NOW · №287

Marleys before her.

Real people
Marley Shelton
American actress.
born 1974
Bob Marley
Jamaican reggae icon (the surname).
1945 – 1981
In fiction
Marley
Yellow Labrador in Marley & Me.
2005 memoir / 2008 film

Names connected to Marley.

The number behind Marley.

1

The Pioneer

Marley reduces to one — the number of free pleasant motion.

Why families chose this name.

"Reggae music played throughout the pregnancy. Marley named her."
Sarah · Mother of one · Kingston