Unisex name · Old English
Oakley
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: oak clearingOakley is a gender-neutral name that comes from Old English and means "oak clearing". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Oak clearing
- Origin
- Old English
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #156 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Oakley
As a boy's name, Oakley comes from Old English and means "oak clearing". It is used in English.
As a gender-neutral name, Oakley comes from Old English and means "oak clearing". It is used in English.
Oakley is also a surname: the 2,123rd most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 16,588 people. See the most common last names.
Its meaning puts Oakley on our nature names list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Oakley on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Oakley on 5 lists.
“Means oak meadow; sturdy and sunny”
From Redneck names for boys, outdoorsy country boy names
“Oak clearing; Old English, from a place name”
From Cute boy names, cute nature names for boys
“Oak clearing; Old English, from a place name”
From Gender neutral names, gender-neutral surname names
“Oak clearing; Old English place name and surname”
From Nature names, unisex nature names
“A clearing in an oak wood”
From Pretty last names, beautiful last names from nature
How popular is Oakley?
In 2025, 1,933 girls and 688 boys in the US were named Oakley.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #156
- 1,933 babies, 1,203 per million girls
- Best rank
- #153 in 2023
- Most babies: 1,933 in 2025
- Babies since 1913
- At least 15,360
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 3 per million |
| 1920s | 3 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 0 per million |
| 1980s | 1 per million |
| 1990s | 7 per million |
| 2000s | 25 per million |
| 2010s | 256 per million |
| 2020s | 1,051 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #581 | #475 | #389 | #349 | #284 | #193 | #157 | #153 | #157 | #156 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #454
- 688 babies, 403 per million boys
- Best rank
- #393 in 2022
- 810 babies that year
- Babies since 1884
- At least 11,385
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 20 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 59 per million |
| 1900s | 55 per million |
| 1910s | 50 per million |
| 1920s | 36 per million |
| 1930s | 23 per million |
| 1940s | 12 per million |
| 1950s | 7 per million |
| 1960s | 4 per million |
| 1970s | 4 per million |
| 1980s | 4 per million |
| 1990s | 14 per million |
| 2000s | 34 per million |
| 2010s | 222 per million |
| 2020s | 442 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #578 | #479 | #459 | #442 | #420 | #403 | #393 | #396 | #408 | #454 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names with a similar meaning
- AinsleyFrom a place named for a solitary or hermitage clearing (English, unisex)
- AlonOak tree (Hebrew, boy)
- AlonaOak tree (Hebrew, girl)
- AritzOak tree (Basque, boy)
- AshleyAsh tree clearing (Old English, unisex)
- BentleyFrom a surname meaning bentgrass clearing (Old English, boy)
- BlakelyDark clearing (Old English, girl)
- BradleyBroad clearing (Old English, boy)
- DarachOf oak (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- DarraghFrom Dáire, or from Darach, of oak (Irish Gaelic, boy)
Middle names for Oakley
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More names from Old English
- EdgarWealthy spear (Old English, boy)
- EdithRich in war (Old English, girl)
- AlfredElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- StormTempest (Old English, unisex)
- AlfredoElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- AudreyNoble strength (Old English, girl)
- EduardoRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- HarperHarp player (Old English, unisex)
Oakley: common questions
What does the name Oakley mean?
Oakley comes from Old English and means "oak clearing". It also has another origin: the same meaning in another language.
Is Oakley a boy or girl name?
Oakley is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 1,933 girls and 688 boys in the US were named Oakley, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Oakley come from?
Oakley comes from Old English and means "oak clearing". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Oakley?
Oakley ranked #156 in the US in 2025, with 1,933 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What middle names go with Oakley?
Middle names that flow well with Oakley include Basil, Briar, Drake, Finn and Honor. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.