Hurley Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Hurley has its origins in Irish Gaelic, meaning 'sea tide'. It evolved from the historical form 'O hUrthuile'. The name has gained popularity primarily as a surname in Ireland and later as a given name in the 20th century. It is associated with strong traits and has no biblical relevance.
The name Hurley is most popular in North Carolina, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Hurley has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Hurley' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1070th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1110th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1526th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3091st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6860th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6375th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5826th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7673rd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 7607th out of 9204 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 22670th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 19658th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Hurley' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Hurley"
Pronunciation
/ˈhɜrli/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
The name Hurley is of Gaelic origin, derived from the word 'O hUrthuile', which means 'descendant of Urthul', an ancient Irish personal name.
Meaning
sea tide
Language Evolution
O hUrthuile, Hurley
Historical Usage
Hurley gained popularity as a surname in Ireland, particularly in the province of Munster. It became more commonly used as a given name in the 20th century, especially in English-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Hurleigh, Hurlie
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Hurley is perceived as a strong and unique name, often associated with a connection to Irish heritage.
Famous People
John Hurley, American actor, Hurley Haywood, American race car driver, Matthew Hurley, American author
Explore More Hurley Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Hurley"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Hurley"
"Hurley" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1070th of 7545 | 676 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1110th of 6773 | 672 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1526th of 7552 | 500 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3091st of 10718 | 173 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 6860th of 16616 | 81 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6375th of 24088 | 182 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 5826th of 23106 | 181 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 7673rd of 9107 | 11 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 7607th of 9204 | 12 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 22670th of 35406 | 28 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 19658th of 30306 | 27 |
Regional Popularity of "Hurley" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
38.72% 916th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
41.69% 981st/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
63.27% 1409th/2227 |
- |
45.22% 1290th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
65.06% 4758th/7313 |
63.81% 4762nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Hurley" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Hurley"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Hurley" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.