Given name & surname · also English
Parley
“one who negotiates”·“a reluctant man”
Parley is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “one who negotiates” (English) and “a reluctant man” (Scottish). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “one who negotiates” (English) and “a reluctant man” (Scottish). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with English and Scottish naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Parley through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 693
- 687 boys · 6 girls
- Most popular year
- 1918
- 25 babies
- 2025
- 14
- #6,352 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −14%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 14 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 6,352 among boys’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for boys was 25 in 1918. In 2025, Utah had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 457 as a first name in 2020; 106 as a surname in 2000.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Parley’s family of names
Parley has a related form in Parle. Parley has a related form in Parlea. Parley has a related form in Parlee.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Parley
- Parley BaerAmerican actor (1914-2002)
- Parley P. PrattApostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints1807–1857
- Parley P. ChristensenAmerican politician (1869-1954)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Parley, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Hale
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>99% boys
Caldwell
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Wiley
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88% boys · 12% girls
Carlyle
“from the fort at Luguvalium”
82% boys · 18% girls
Elroy
“a red-haired young man” · “a king”
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Armstrong
“a strong warrior”
>99% boys
Gardner
“one who works the earth” · “the keeper of the garden”
97% boys · 3% girls
Harden
“from the hare's valley”
>99% boys