NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Buckley

A masculine name of Irish origin meaning "lively" or "alert".

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.

Buckley is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Buckley popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2671, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 9 births.

This profile covers 43 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2010 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.

The latest count is about 89% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 43 living people in the UK are called Buckley. 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

  • Buckley ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 9 boys were registered as Buckley.
  • About 43 living people in the UK are estimated to have Buckley as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2671

2024

Births in 2024

8

Latest year

Peak year

2023

9 births

Estimated living

43

2026

Meaning

What does Buckley mean?

The name Buckley has its roots in the Old English language, derived from the words "buc" meaning "buck" or male deer, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest. It was originally a descriptive name given to someone who lived or worked in an area abundant with deer.

During the medieval period in England, the name Buckley was particularly prevalent in the counties of Cheshire and Lancashire, which were known for their extensive woodlands and deer hunting grounds. It was often used as a surname, but over time, it also became established as a given name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Buckley can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named "Buckley" in the county of Cheshire.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Buckley of Buckley was recorded as the Lord of the Manor of Buckley in Cheshire. This feudal lord and his descendants played a significant role in the local history and governance of the region.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Buckley. One such person was William Buckley (1780-1856), an English convict who escaped from a penal colony in Australia and lived among Aboriginal Australians for over 30 years, becoming an important figure in early colonial history.

Another famous Buckley was William F. Buckley Jr. (1925-2008), an American author, conservative commentator, and the host of the long-running TV show "Firing Line." He was a prominent figure in the intellectual and political spheres of the United States.

In the world of literature, Christopher Buckley (born 1952) is an American novelist and satirist, best known for his political satires such as "Thank You for Smoking" and "Boomsday." He is the son of William F. Buckley Jr.

In the field of sports, Bill Buckley (1886-1964) was an American baseball player who played for several Major League Baseball teams, including the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs, in the early 20th century.

Finally, Buckley Barrett (born 1983) is a contemporary Australian singer-songwriter and musician, known for his alternative rock and indie folk music, and for his solo projects as well as his work with the band The Snowdroppers.

These are just a few examples of the diverse individuals who have carried the name Buckley throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence across various cultures and disciplines.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Buckley over time

The chart below shows babies named Buckley registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 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 Buckley, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Buckley
02579201020172024

Decades

Buckley by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Buckley 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 #3444 24 4
2010s #4134 19 5

Related

Names similar to Buckley

FAQ

Buckley: questions and answers

How popular is the name Buckley in the UK right now?

In 2024, Buckley was ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.

When was Buckley most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 9 babies registered as Buckley in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Buckley?

A masculine name of Irish origin meaning "lively" or "alert".

How many people are called Buckley in the UK?

A total of 43 babies have been registered as Buckley across the 9 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.