Name of the Week

 

Many see him as a genial cardigan wearer, yet Stanley's rise
in popularity over the last ten years is nothing short of astonishing. 
This is certainly one to watch. 

 

Origin:

From the Old English elements stān "stone" and lēah "clearing, glade, meadow". It was given as a placename to various towns and villages in Derby, Durham, Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, Wiltshire and West Yorkshire.

Usage:

The various places named Stanley invariably led to the toponymic surnames Stanley, Stanly and Stanleigh. One Stanley family in particular were very prominent as the Earls of Derby. A few examples of Stanley used as a first name survive from the 17th century, and were most likely thanks to an association with the aristocratic Stanley family. The name began to spread in the 18th century and by the 1841 UK census 256 males were named Stanley, as well as 3 females. The name grew rapidly in popularity during Queen Victoria's reign. Indeed, in the 1901 UK census, the number of Stanleys registered had risen to a whopping 44,276.  In the 20th century, Stanley stood in the Top 100 boys' names in England and Wales for five decades: #23 in 1904, #22 in 1914, #17 in 1924 (notably when Stanley Baldwin was British Prime Minister), #39 in 1934, #60 in 1944 and #86 in 1954.  By 1996, having seen a decline in the previous four decades, Stanley was #265 with 108 births in England and Wales. Ten years later, in 2006, it had risen to #129 with 413 births. It broke the Top 100 again in 2009 at #98 (627 births) and ranked #88 (737 births) in 2010.  The name is much less popular in Scotland where it ranked #341 (8 births) in 2011.

Famous Bearers:

History: * Sir Henry Morton Stanley (1841–1904) was a Welsh-born journalist and explorer.  * Stanley Baldwin (1867–1947) was British Prime Minister three times from 1923-1924, 1924-1929, and 1935-1937. * Stan Laurel / Arthur Stanley Jefferson (1890–1965) was an English-born comic actor and film director who was part of the famous double act Laurel and Hardy.   * Stanley Kubrick (1928–1999) was a notable American film director and screen writer.

Variants:

Stanlee

Pronunciation:

STAN-lee [key]

Possible Diminutives:

Lee, Lenny, Stan, Stee, Steen

Sibling Names:

Martha     Elsie     Nancy     Julia     Matilda     Connie  Arthur     Harvey     Louis     Charles     Hugo     Archie

Name Lists:

Victorian Darlings

 

If you like Stanley you may also like:   Sidney, Henley, Barney, Reginald, Humphrey, Geoffrey, Anthony, Wilfred, Clifford, Percy