Given name & surname · also American
Henley
“a social butterfly”·“from the high meadow”
Henley is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a social butterfly” (American) and “from the high meadow” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a social butterfly” (American) and “from the high meadow” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with American and English naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1912. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Henley through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 8,272
- 1,547 boys · 6,725 girls
- Most popular year
- 2016
- 699 babies
- 2025
- 317
- #1,001 for girls · #2,194 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −31%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 15% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 252 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,001 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 36.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 608 in 2016. It also appeared in 65 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (18). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,292 as a first name in 2020; 20,025 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.
Henley’s family of names
Henley has a related form in Henlea. Henley has a related form in Henleah. Henley has a related form in Henlee.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 9
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Henleevariant
- Henleighvariant
- Hennleylikely variant
- Hendleyvariant · English
- Henlievariant
- Henlivariant
- Henlyvariant
- Henleahvariant
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Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Henley
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Henley, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Harley
“from the meadow of the hares”
20% boys · 80% girls
Presley
“of the priest's town” · “from the priest's meadow”
7% boys · 93% girls
Marley
“from the meadow near the lake”
13% boys · 87% girls
Hallie
“from the hall” · “woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Winter
“born during the winter season”
6% boys · 94% girls
Stella
“star of the sea”
>99% girls
Lemon
“resembling the fruit”
>99% girls
Poppy
“resembling the red flower”
>99% girls