Given name & surname
Paley
“a small or humble man”·“small”
Paley is a form of Paul. Interpretations include “small” and “a small or humble man” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Paley carries the interpretation “a small or humble man.” Paley is a form of Paul. Interpretations include “small” and “a small or humble man” (Latin). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
Paley is used as a form of Paul.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 2004. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Paley through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 17
- 0 boys · 17 girls
- Most popular year
- 2007
- 7 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 7 in 2007. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,520 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.
Paley’s family of names
Paley is a form of Paul. Paley has a related form in Polly. Paley has a related form in Palea.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
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