Given name & surname
Dudley
“from the people's meadow”
Dudley is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the people's meadow.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “from the people's meadow.” Its derivation is not certain.
Where it comes from
A possible origin is English, although the derivation remains uncertain.
How it developed
It entered given-name use through an existing surname.
The story
Its naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Dudley through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 11,988
- 11,868 boys · 120 girls
- Most popular year
- 1931
- 286 babies
- 2025
- 6
- #11,017 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −14%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 6 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 11,017 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 14.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 279 in 1931. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,342 as a first name in 2020; 34,312 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Dudley’s family of names
Dudley has a short form in Dud. Dudley has a related form in Dudlea. Dudley has a related form in Dudleah.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 10
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Dudshort form
- Duddleylikely variant
- Dudlievariant
- Dudlivariant
- Dudleighvariant
- Dudleahvariant
- Dudleavariant
- Dudleevariant
Show 2 moreShow fewer
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Dudley
- Dudley R. HerschbachAmerican chemistborn 1932
- Dudley MooreBritish actor, comedian, composer and musician (1935–2002)
- Dudley SenanayakeSri Lankan politician (1911–1973)
- Dudley PoundRoyal Navy admiral of the fleet (1877-1943)
- Dudley StoreyNew Zealand rower (1939–2017)
- Dudley NicholsAmerican screenwriter (1895-1960)
- Dudley NorthEnglish politician and businessman (1641-1692)
- Dudley BradleyAmerican basketball player (born 1957)
- Dudley SuttonBritish actor (1933–2018)
Characters named Dudley: Uncle Marvel (DC Comics character).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Dudley, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Hurley
“a healthy woman” · “of the sea tide”
96% boys · 4% girls
Wilton
“from the town on the river”
>99% boys
Early
“daughter born prematurely” · “one who is punctual”
>99% boys
Haywood
“from the hedged forest”
>99% boys
Clifford
“from the ford near the cliff”
>99% boys
Delbert
“one who is noble; a bright man”
>99% boys
Orrin
“from the river”
>99% boys
Delton
“from the town in the valley”
>99% boys