Total births
11
Boys' name · since 1938
Whaley
Since 1938, U.S. Social Security records show 11 babies named Whaley, peaking in 1947. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 11
- total births
- 1938–1947
- years on record
- 1940s
- peak decade
- 55%
- born in that decade
Whaley sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 11 recorded since 1938.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Whaley has been recorded 11 times among boys since 1938, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1940s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1938 to 1947.
- 11 total births
- 1938–1947 years on record
- 1940s peak decade
- 55% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
11 boys have been named Whaley since 1938, peaking in the 1940s, last recorded in 1947.
- 11
- total births
- 1938–1947
- years on record
- 1940s
- peak decade
- 55%
- born in that decade
1940s
Peak decade
55% of everyone ever named Whaley was born in this single decade.
1947
Single peak year
6 babies were named Whaley in 1947 - its busiest year on record.
Whaley's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Whaley's SSA record in two at 1947 and the more recent half accounts for 55% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 45%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1938, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1947 peak of 6, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Whaley at a glance
Last recorded 1947Peak year
1947
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1938
Whaley popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1938–1947
- Peak year (1947)
- 6
- Annual births at peak, across 10 years of records
Whaley by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1940s was Whaley's strongest decade.
6 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 55% of all-time use.
Whaley births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1930s
1930s
5 births
- 1940s
1940s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1940s at 6 births (55% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Whaley? ▼
Whaley has been given to 11 babies in the U.S. since 1938, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1947. 6 babies were born in 1947, its single highest year.
When was Whaley most popular? ▼
Whaley was most popular in the 1940s decade with 6 total births. The single peak year was 1947.
How long has the name Whaley been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Whaley since 1938 -- 10 years through the most recent 1947 data.
What names are similar to Whaley? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Whalen, Wharton. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
Keep exploring Whaley
Nearby Names Like Whaley
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Whaley
Compare Whaley side by side: Whaley vs Whalen Whaley vs Wharton
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1938–1947 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Whaley: Baby Name Since 1938 - 11 Births, Peak 1947." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/whaley. 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 Whaley 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 July 2026.