UK boy's name
Chadley
An English masculine name possibly derived from Chad and the suffix -ley.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Chadley is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Chadley popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4810, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 4 births.
This profile covers 25 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1996 to 2016. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 25 living people in the UK are called Chadley. 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 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Chadley ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 4 boys were registered as Chadley.
- • About 25 living people in the UK are estimated to have Chadley as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4810
2016
Births in 2016
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
4 births
Estimated living
25
2026
Meaning
What does Chadley mean?
The name Chadley is a relatively modern invention, with no clear roots in any ancient language or culture. It is believed to have originated as a combination of the names Chad and Dudley in the English-speaking world, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century.
The name Chad itself is a shortened form of the name Chadwick, which is derived from the Old English words "cead" meaning "wealth" and "wic" meaning "dwelling." Dudley, on the other hand, is an English surname that originated from the town of Dudley in the West Midlands region of England.
There are no known historical references to the name Chadley in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records. The earliest recorded examples of the name appear to be from the mid-20th century, but it remained relatively uncommon until more recent times.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Chadley was Chadley James, an American singer and songwriter born in 1948. He was active in the country music scene in the 1970s and 1980s, releasing several albums and charting singles.
Another notable bearer of the name is Chadley Foster, an American professional wrestler born in 1967. He wrestled under the ring name Chadley Foster in various independent promotions throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
In the literary world, Chadley Wilmont is the name of a fictional character in the novel "The Whisper of Stars" by Nick Jones, published in 2012. The character is a young man navigating the challenges of growing up in a small town.
Chadley Benbrook was an American entrepreneur and businessman born in 1952. He founded several successful companies in the technology and software industries, and was known for his innovative approach to business.
Lastly, Chadley Masterson was a British artist and sculptor born in 1928 and died in 2002. He was known for his abstract metal sculptures and installations, which were exhibited in galleries and public spaces throughout the United Kingdom and Europe.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Chadley over time
The chart below shows babies named Chadley registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Chadley, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Chadley by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Chadley 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4353 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3072 | 7 | 2 |
| 1990s | #2546 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Chadley
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Chadley: questions and answers
How popular is the name Chadley in the UK right now?
In 2016, Chadley was ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Chadley most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 4 babies registered as Chadley in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Chadley?
An English masculine name possibly derived from Chad and the suffix -ley.
How many people are called Chadley in the UK?
A total of 25 babies have been registered as Chadley across the 7 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.