How to say it
MAR · ley
ˈmɑːr.li
Unisex
Marley
Boundary wood, pleasant clearing
What it means
An English place and surname name, a 'boundary clearing' or 'marten wood,' from Old English.
Marley is an English place-name surname, a wood or clearing marked by a boundary or by martens. It is impossible to separate from Bob Marley, whose surname carries most of the name's warmth and rhythm today, and the weepy dog of Marley & Me added a softer note. It runs unisex, currently leaning feminine. Charles Dickens used it long ago for the ghost of Jacob Marley. Marlee is the common alternate spelling.
How to spell Marley
The standard spelling is Marley. Common variants include Marlee, Marleigh, Marly, but Marley is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
Feminine: peaked at #145 in 2008, currently #322 in 2025.
Masculine: peaked at #766 in 2008, currently #1397 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Worth knowing
Unisex, leaning feminine; Bob Marley and Marley & Me are the touchstones.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Bob Marley reggae musician whose surname drives the name's appeal
Spelling variants
- Marlee
- Marleigh
- Marly
Names with the same feeling
See Marley from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Marley mean?
- An English place and surname name, a 'boundary clearing' or 'marten wood,' from Old English.
- What does Marley mean in English?
- In English, Marley means "Boundary wood, pleasant clearing." Marley is an English place-name surname, a wood or clearing marked by a boundary or by martens. It is impossible to separate from Bob Marley, whose surname carries most of the name's warmth and rhythm today, and the weepy dog of Marley & Me added a softer note. It runs unisex, currently leaning feminine. Charles Dickens used it long ago for the ghost of Jacob Marley. Marlee is the common alternate spelling.
- How do you pronounce Marley?
- Marley is pronounced ˈmɑːr.li. Say it as MAR-ley, with the stress on the "mar" syllable.
- How do you spell Marley?
- The standard spelling is Marley. Common spelling variants include Marlee, Marleigh, Marly.
- Is Marley a boy or girl name?
- Marley is used for both boys and girls.
- How popular is the name Marley?
- Marley ranked #322 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.