Total births
518
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.
- 518
- total births
- 1909–2008
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that 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.
- 518 total births
- 1909–2008 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 31% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
518 boys have been named Morley since 1909, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2008.
- 518
- total births
- 1909–2008
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
31% of everyone ever named Morley was born in this single decade.
1918
Single peak year
19 babies were named Morley in 1918 - its busiest year on record.
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 at a glance
Last recorded 2008Peak year
1918
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1909
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
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
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 vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
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% |
Michigan share of Morley's total US births 4.1%
Even split
21 of 518 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Morley? ▼
Since 1909, Social Security records show 518 babies named Morley. The most recent recorded year was 2008. Its busiest year on record was 1918, with 19 births.
When was Morley most popular? ▼
Morley was most popular in the 1920s decade with 159 total births. The single peak year was 1918.
Where is Morley most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Morley are Michigan (21 births), California (13 births), New York (6 births).
Is Morley a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Morley is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 518 births, and as a girl's name it has 48 births.
How long has the name Morley been used? ▼
Records for Morley go back to 1909, giving 100 years of history through 2008.
What names are similar to Morley? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Morris, Morgan, Morton, Mordechai, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
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
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare 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
Morris Boy
#1862 71,000 births
Morgan Boy
#531 45,643 births
Morton Boy
12,336 births
Mordechai Boy
#958 6,821 births
Mortimer Boy
1,943 births
Compare Morley side by side: Morley vs Morris Morley vs Morgan Morley vs Morton
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 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).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Morley: Baby Name Since 1909 - 518 Births, Peak 1918." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/morley. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
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 June 2026.