Ashley was a big hit for British boys in the 80s and 90s,
now brother-name Oakley is swiftly rising up the charts.
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Origin: |
A place name meaning "clearing of oak tree" or "oak tree grove," taken from the Old English words āc "oak" and lēah "wood, clearing, glade, meadow, open field." It is a well used placename in Britain, found in many counties from Fife to Dorset. The oak tree was sacred to the ancient Britons. They believed that the revered Oak King presided over half the year, after winning a battle with the Holly King at the Winter Solstice. The word for Druid is in fact most likely derived from the Proto-Indo-European *derwo-/*dreu- "oak," and several oak groves were considered sacred. It is possible that the many places named Oakley may once have been the site of one of these sacred groves. |
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Usage: |
The many places named Oakley naturally led to it being used as a surname — the first examples coming from the 12th century. Oakley is still well used as a surname today, alongside variant forms Oakeley, Okeley and Okely. As with almost all surnames, the practice of passing on family surnames (particularly the mother's maiden name) as firstnames meant that Oakley had occasional use as firstname from the 17th century. Predominantly, this usage has been masculine, though a few examples can be found of girls being given the name. The 1841 census lists 28 Oakl(e)ys, all male. The 1861 census lists 28 males and 1 female with the name, while the 1881 census has 37 bearers of the name, all male. By 1901 there were 71 males listed with the name, and 2 females. From the 1830s right up to the 1990s, Oakley was registered only a handful of times each decade in England and Wales. Over the past decade, the name has been steadily growing in popularity, finally making a huge leap in 2011 when it rose up 139 places and increased by 106 births. 1996: 17 births (#853) Also in 2011, 12 boys were given the variant spellings Oaklee, Oakleigh and Oakly in 2011, while 13 girls were named Oakley and 6 Oakleigh. It would be nice to find some reference in popular culture that would neatly explain this leap but, beyond the Oakley sunglasses brand and a footballer and rugby player with the surname, there is no obvious namesake. Most likely the name's rise in usage lies in its two-syllable, -ley ending, surname status that matches many Top 100 favourites such as Riley, Finley, Harley, Stanley and Bailey, and 90s favourites Ashley and Bradley. Whatever the reason for its current success, Oakley is definitely one to look out for when the 2012 rankings are released in August. |
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Famous Bearers: |
History: * Annie Oakley (1860–1926), American sharpshooter and exhibition shooter. Contemporary: * Matthew Oakley (b. 1977), English football player. Other: * Two ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Oakley. |
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Variants: |
Oaklee, Oakleigh, Oakly |
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Pronunciation: |
Ō-klee [key] |
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Possible Diminutives: |
Oak, Kole, Lee |
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Sibling Names: |
Darcy Alyssa Sienna Keira Skye Macey |
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Name Lists: |
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If you like Oakley you may also like: |
Thanks to Lizzie for requesting Oakley.
