Worley Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Worley originates from Old English, meaning an enclosed clearing in the woods. It has evolved from the Old English form 'Worleah'. The name is associated with rural areas and has a traditional image. It does not have biblical relevance. It gained popularity as a surname during the medieval period and is still in use today.
The name Worley is most popular in Virginia, 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. From 2020-2022, Worley has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Worley' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1938th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1906th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3112th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 7011th out of 10718 names. Discover how the name 'Worley' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Worley"
Pronunciation
/ˈwɜrli/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
Worley is derived from an Old English personal name, which is a combination of elements meaning 'enclosure' or 'farm' and 'wood' or 'clearing'.
Meaning
enclosed clearing in the woods
Language Evolution
Worley (Modern English), Worleah (Old English)
Historical Usage
Worley gained popularity as a surname in England, particularly in rural areas, during the medieval period and has remained in use into the modern era.
Variants & Derivatives
Worlee, Worly
Modern Popularity & Image
Worley is perceived as a traditional and somewhat rustic name, often associated with rural or pastoral imagery.
Famous People
J. D. Worley, American football player, Dale Worley, American musician
Explore More Worley Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Worley"
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 "Worley"
"Worley" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1938th of 7545 | 264 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1906th of 6773 | 268 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3112th of 7552 | 135 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 7011th of 10718 | 27 |
Regional Popularity of "Worley" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
83.05% 1176th/1416 |
- |
51.35% 1215th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
65.28% 1536th/2353 |
- |
| 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) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Worley" 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 "Worley"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Worley" 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.