Unisex name · since 1909
Morley
Since 1909, U.S. Social Security records show 518 babies named Morley, peaking in 1918. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #7,736 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 518
- born since 1909
- 1920s
- peak decade
518 boys have been named Morley since 1909, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Morley has been recorded 518 times among boys since 1909, 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 1909 to 2008.
- #7,736 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 518 born since 1909
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Morley ranks #7,736 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 518 born since 1909, peaking in the 1920s.
- #7,736 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 518
- born since 1909
- 1920s
- peak decade
Morley's 518 recorded births place it above 82.98% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 3 jurisdictions, led by Michigan.
Morley's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Morley's SSA record in two at 1935 and the more recent half accounts for 39% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 61%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1909, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1918 peak of 19, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Morley popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1909–2008
- Peak year (1918)
- 19
- Annual births at peak, across 100 years of records
Morley popularity over time - girls
48 total births recorded since 1925 (Morley as girls' name)
Morley by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (159 births, 31% of the file).
1920s was Morley's strongest decade.
159 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 31% of all-time use.
Morley births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 5
1900s
5 births
- 1910s
1910s
81 births
- 1920s
1920s
159 births
- 1930s
1930s
132 births
- 1940s
1940s
72 births
- 1950s 35
1950s
35 births
- 1960s 23
1960s
23 births
- 1970s 5
1970s
5 births
- 2000s 6
2000s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 159 births (31% of all-time use).
How Morley 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 Morley's total volume
Morley by state
Where Morley concentrates geographically, total births since 1909
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Michigan | | 21 | 4.1% |
| #2 | California | | 13 | 2.5% |
| #3 | New York | | 6 | 1.2% |
21 of 518 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with Morley's data
- Morley's decade-level peak was the 1920s (159 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Michigan records the most Morleys (21 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Michigan names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Morley
Nearby Names Like Morley
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Morley
Compare Morley side by side: Morley vs Morris Morley vs Morgan Morley vs Morton
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Morley: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1918)
Similar record span (~99 yrs)
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, 1909–2008 (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 Morley 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.