UK boy's name
Atley
Derived from an English surname meaning "clearing or meadow by the river".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Atley is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Atley popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1758, with 14 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 14 births.
This profile covers 42 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2002 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Atley is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 42 living people in the UK are called Atley. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Atley ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 14 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 14 boys were registered as Atley.
- • About 42 living people in the UK are estimated to have Atley as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1758
2024
Births in 2024
14
Latest year
Peak year
2024
14 births
Estimated living
42
2026
Meaning
What does Atley mean?
The name Atley is believed to have originated from the Old English language, which was spoken in parts of Britain from the 5th to the 11th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "æt" meaning "at" and "leah" meaning "a meadow or clearing." Thus, the name Atley likely referred to someone who lived near a clearing or meadow.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Atley can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of a great survey of landholders in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the name was in use among the Anglo-Saxon population of England prior to the Norman Conquest.
In the 12th century, an English nobleman named Atley de Wyndham was mentioned in historical records. He was a wealthy landowner and served as a knight under King Henry II. Another notable figure with the name Atley was Atley Bredwell, a 14th-century English monk and scholar who authored several works on theology and philosophy.
During the Renaissance period, Atley Smythe was a prominent merchant and diplomat from England who traveled extensively throughout Europe. He is known for his detailed accounts of his travels and his efforts to promote trade between England and other European nations.
In the 19th century, Atley Bevan was a Welsh industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the coal mining industry in South Wales. He was also known for his support of educational initiatives and his efforts to improve the living conditions of miners and their families.
Another notable figure with the name Atley was Atley Townsend, an American soldier who served in the Civil War. He fought for the Union Army and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and valor on the battlefield.
While the name Atley may have originated from Old English roots, it has been used across various cultures and regions throughout history, with individuals bearing this name leaving their mark in various fields, from literature and philosophy to industry and military service.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Atley over time
The chart below shows babies named Atley registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Atley, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 14 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Atley by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Atley was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2488 | 39 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3225 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Atley
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Atley: questions and answers
How popular is the name Atley in the UK right now?
In 2024, Atley was ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales, with 14 births registered.
When was Atley most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 14 babies registered as Atley in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Atley?
Derived from an English surname meaning "clearing or meadow by the river".
How many people are called Atley in the UK?
A total of 42 babies have been registered as Atley across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.