UK boy's name
Rowley
A masculine name of English origin referring to the place name Rowley.
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.
Rowley is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rowley popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3523, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 5 births.
This profile covers 14 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2008 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.
Rowley is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 14 living people in the UK are called Rowley. 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
- • Rowley ranked #3523 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 5 boys were registered as Rowley.
- • About 14 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rowley as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3523
2023
Births in 2023
5
Latest year
Peak year
2023
5 births
Estimated living
14
2026
Meaning
What does Rowley mean?
The given name Rowley has its origins in English language and culture, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "row" meaning a row of houses or a street, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing. Therefore, Rowley likely referred to someone who lived in a row of houses or a street near a meadow or clearing.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rowley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings in England and Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as a placename, suggesting it was already in use as a surname or locational name at that time.
In the 13th century, the name Rowley is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, which were administrative records of the county. This indicates that the name was in use as a personal name during this period.
One of the earliest known individuals with the given name Rowley was Rowley Cooke (c. 1515 – 1564), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Another notable figure with the name Rowley was Sir Rowley Lacon (1608 – 1676), an English soldier and politician who fought in the English Civil War and served as a Member of Parliament for Shropshire.
In the 18th century, Rowley Lascelles (1711 – 1802) was a British Army officer and Member of Parliament who served as the Director-General of the Ordnance.
A famous literary figure with the given name Rowley was Rowley Ridgway (1795 – 1864), an English writer and poet who published several works, including "The Modern Art of Fencing" and "Tales of the Genii."
In the 20th century, Rowley Leigh (1940 – 2022) was a renowned English writer and chef, known for his contributions to the culinary arts and his cookbooks such as "No Prawn Bride: Conundrums of a Culinary Kamikaze."
These examples illustrate the long-standing presence of the given name Rowley in English history and culture, spanning various fields and professions over several centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rowley over time
The chart below shows babies named Rowley registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 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 Rowley, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2023, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rowley by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rowley 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 | #4156 | 8 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4702 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4432 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Rowley
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Rowley: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rowley in the UK right now?
In 2023, Rowley was ranked #3523 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Rowley most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 5 babies registered as Rowley in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rowley?
A masculine name of English origin referring to the place name Rowley.
How many people are called Rowley in the UK?
A total of 14 babies have been registered as Rowley across the 4 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.