Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Smiley isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1900. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Smiley through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 363
- 357 boys · 6 girls
- Most popular year
- 1926
- 13 babies
- 2025
- 6
- #14,703 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 6 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 14,703 among girls’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 379 as a first name in 2020; 19,041 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.
Smiley’s family of names
In English usage, Smiley as a surname has a related form in SMILIE. In English usage, Smiley as a surname has a related form in SMYLIE. In English usage, Smiley as a surname has a related form in SMYLY.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Smiley, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Wiley
“of the willows” · “one who is crafty; from the meadow by the water”
88% boys · 12% girls
Leeroy
Leeroy is a masculine given name.
>99% boys
Odis
Odis is a masculine given name.
>99% boys
Laurent
“a graceful woman”
90% boys · 10% girls
Wilton
“from the town on the river”
>99% boys
Elroy
“a red-haired young man” · “a king”
>99% boys
Elwin
“a friend of the elves”
>99% boys
Raymon
“a wise protector”
>99% boys