Boys' name · since 1880

Burley

Since 1880, U.S. Social Security records show 2,310 babies named Burley, peaking in 1921. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.

#3,008 of 45,481
all-time among boys
2,310
born since 1880
1920s
peak decade

Burley sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 2,310 recorded since 1880.

According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Burley has been recorded 2,310 times among boys since 1880, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 2020.

  • #3,008 of 45,481 all-time among boys
  • 2,310 born since 1880
  • 1920s peak decade

Data updated Aug 2026

The verdict

According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Burley ranks #3,008 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 2,310 born since 1880, peaking in the 1920s.

#3,008 of 45,481
all-time among boys
2,310
born since 1880
1920s
peak decade
Above the archive median
All-time archive position

Burley's 2,310 recorded births place it above 93.38% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.

10 jurisdictions
State-record footprint

10 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by Kentucky.

Burley's usage pattern, beyond the headline number

Divide Burley's SSA record in two at 1938 and the more recent half accounts for 42% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 58%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1897, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1921 peak of 58, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.

Burley popularity over time - boys

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2020

Last recorded 2020
Peak year (1921)
58
Annual births at peak, across 141 years of records
020406080 188018951912192619401954196819822020 7

Burley popularity over time - girls

40 total births recorded since 1900 (Burley as girls' name)

Unisex variant - 40 births
456789 1900191719191921192219251940 5

Burley by decade

1920s is the heaviest window (448 births, 19% of the file).

1920s was Burley's strongest decade.

448 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 19% of all-time use.

Burley births by decade

Total births in each ten-year window

births

What this shows Peak: 1920s at 448 births (19% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of August 2026

How Burley compares to similarly-sized names

Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Burley's total volume

Burley vs 15 similarly-sized boys names Scatter plot of 16 data points. 0%5%10%15%20% 050100150200 New & already peakedOld name, single-era peakNew & still diversifyingLong history, steady all along Years in SSA records % of total births in the single peak year -27, 18%-56, 6.7%-113, 2.7%-32, 7.1%-115, 1.7%-53, 5.8%-111, 10.9%-146, 1.6%-42, 7.6%-62, 3.1%-86, 3.4%-75, 4.5%-58, 7.3%-119, 1.6%-43, 6.6%Burley-141, 2.5%Burley
Burley vs 15 similarly-sized boys names

Burley by state

Where Burley concentrates geographically, total births since 1880

Geographically diffuse
Top 8 states by recorded births for the name Burley
Rank State Visual share Births Share of total
#1 Kentucky
110 4.8%
#2 Virginia
80 3.5%
#3 North Carolina
71 3.1%
#4 West Virginia
41 1.8%
#5 Arkansas
39 1.7%
#6 Louisiana
23 1.0%
#7 Alabama
11 0.5%
#8 Tennessee
11 0.5%
Kentucky share of Burley's total US births 4.8%
Even split

110 of 2,310 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 10 reporting states.

Burley appears in 10 states. Explore state details →

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Burley?
Burley has been given to 2,310 babies in the U.S. since 1880, according to SSA data. Its archive ordinal is #3,008 of 45,481 among boys' names (total births, highest first). Its last appearance in the data was 2020. 58 babies were born in 1921, its single highest year.
Where does Burley sit in the SSA name archive?
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Burley ranks #3,008 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). All-time ordinal matches browse popularity (total births DESC); the current ordinal uses the null SSA file. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
When was Burley most popular?
Burley was most popular in the 1920s decade with 448 total births. The single peak year was 1921.
Where is Burley most popular?
The top states for the name Burley are Kentucky (110 births), Virginia (80 births), North Carolina (71 births).
How long has the name Burley been used?
The SSA has tracked Burley since 1880 -- 141 years through the most recent 2020 data.
What names are similar to Burley?
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Burton, Burl, Burt, Burke, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.

What to do with Burley's data

  • Burley's decade-level peak was the 1920s (448 total births); usage has since declined to 7 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
  • Kentucky records the most Burleys (110 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Kentucky names

Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.

Keep exploring Burley

Nearby Names Like Burley

Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Burley

Names with a similar number of total births

Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span

Two nationwide peer axes for Burley: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.

Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.

Data Sources

Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).

According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.

Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1880–2020 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).

State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).

Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Burley draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.