UK name, mostly girls
Orly
A feminine given name of Hebrew origin meaning "light" or "my light.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Orly is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Orly popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3598, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 9 births.
This profile covers 80 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 2003 to 2023. 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 80 living people in the UK are called Orly. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Orly ranked #3598 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 9 girls were registered as Orly.
- • About 80 living people in the UK are estimated to have Orly as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 90.9% of Orly registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3598
2023
Births in 2023
6
Latest year
Peak year
2018
9 births
Estimated living
80
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Orly
In England and Wales birth records, Orly has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 9.1% of registrations are for boys and 90.9% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Orly registered for boys
- Ranked #4,678 in 2010
- 3 boys registered in 2010
- Peak: 2006 (5 births)
Orly registered for girls
- Ranked #3,598 in 2023
- 6 girls registered in 2023
- Peak: 2018 (9 births)
Meaning
What does Orly mean?
The name Orly is believed to have its origins in the Hebrew language. It is derived from the Biblical Hebrew word "or," which means "light." The name Orly is a diminutive form of this word, often translated as "little light" or "my light."
In the Old Testament, the word "or" is used to refer to the light of the sun, moon, and stars. It is also used metaphorically to represent wisdom, truth, and divine revelation. This connection to light and enlightenment may have contributed to the popularity of the name Orly in Jewish communities throughout history.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Orly can be found in the Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism. The Talmud mentions a person named Orly ben Abba, who lived in the 3rd century CE. This individual was a renowned scholar and is cited as an authority on various legal and theological matters.
During the Middle Ages, the name Orly was relatively uncommon, but it did appear in some Jewish communities across Europe. One notable figure from this period was Orly ben Yitzchak, a 13th-century Jewish philosopher and scholar from Provence, France.
As the name Orly spread beyond its Hebrew roots, it gained popularity in various cultures and languages. In the 19th century, Orly Blanco was a prominent Venezuelan politician and military leader who played a crucial role in the country's struggle for independence.
In the 20th century, the name Orly gained more widespread recognition. Orly Castel-Bloom, born in 1960, is an Israeli author known for her novels and short stories that explore themes of identity and social issues.
Another notable figure is Orly Weinerman, an Israeli artist and sculptor born in 1937. Her works have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, and she is celebrated for her innovative use of materials and her exploration of the human form.
Orly Taitz, born in 1960, is an American lawyer and politician who gained attention for her involvement in the "birther" movement, which questioned the legitimacy of President Barack Obama's birth certificate.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Orly. While its origins can be traced back to the Hebrew language and the concept of light, the name has transcended its linguistic and cultural boundaries, becoming a part of diverse traditions and societies.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Orly over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Orly in England and Wales, from 2003 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Orly, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2023, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Orly by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Orly 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 | #3954 | 22 | 4 |
| 2010s | #4314 | 41 | 8 |
| 2000s | #4730 | 17 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Orly
- Olivia 123,111
- Orla 10,799
- Olive 6,815
- Ophelia 4,939
- Ottilie 4,407
- Oliwia 2,608
- Ocean 1,811
- Orlaith 1,357
- Olivia-Rose 1,250
- Octavia 1,243
- Olivia-Grace 618
- Orlagh 608
FAQ
Orly: questions and answers
How popular is the name Orly in the UK right now?
In 2023, Orly was ranked #3598 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Orly most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 9 babies registered as Orly in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Orly?
A feminine given name of Hebrew origin meaning "light" or "my light.".
How many people are called Orly in the UK?
A total of 80 babies have been registered as Orly across the 17 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.