FOR ALL AGES
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
If you knew from the first few weeks of pregnancy that you wanted a baby boys name that ended in ley, you've got plenty of time to narrow down the choices.
You certainly won't be alone in plumping for this soft sound at the end of your chosen name. Over the past few decades names that end in the sound ley, (including ly, y, ely) have skyrocketed in popularity.
One of the reasons could be because these names can take on different feelings depending on whether you use the full name or shorten it. For example, Bradley and Ashley have gentler undertones compared to the shorter versions of Brad or Ash. If you opt to use a name that can with the ley ending then you're also giving your son choices – they can choose whether to use the full name or go with the short version.
Picking baby names is a tough challenge but if you already know the end sound you want you're halfway there to finding one you like enough to give your baby son. We've gathered together a wide selection of names to browse, from the super-popular to the wonderfully traditional, as well as some which draw their inspiration from pop culture and celebrity. Many of the names have a nature focus as the ley sound is derived from the old English for wood clearing. If you like the sound of that, you'll love our 50 best boy names ending in Son and our 100 best boy names ending in Er for some more inspiration for name endings.
It seems like the baby boy name Ashley started the current trend for expectant parents to plump for names that end in ley. This collection of popular baby names includes names that have rocketed to the top of the baby names list and still remain strong.
1.Ashley (English origin). Means "ash meadow".
2.Billey (German origin). Means "will" or "desire". Variation of Billy.
3.Charley (German origin). Means "free man".
4.Findley (Scottish origin). Means ". A variation of Finley.
5.Finley (Scottish origin). Means "sunbeam" or "white warrior".
6.Hadley (English origin). Means "heather meadow".
7.Harley (English origin). Means "hare meadow" or "rock meadow".
8.Huntley (English origin). Means "hunter's meadow".
9.Hurley (Irish origin). Means "child of the sea".
10.Huxley (English origin). Means "Hucc's meadow".
11.Loxley (English origin). Means "glade by the lake".
12.Oakley (English origin). Means "oak tree".
13.Olley (Latin origin). Means "olive tree". Variations include Olly, Oliver, Ollie.
14.Riley (Irish origin). Means "courageous" or "valiant".
15.Stanley (English origin). Means "stony meadow".
If you want baby names that conjure up images of strong, reliable men then go traditional. There are plenty of names that feature the popular ley ending but hark back to a gentler era. Try these ones on for size.
16.Ackley (English origin). Means "division of land". Variations include Akley, Ackerley, Akerley.
17.Adley (Hebrew origin). Means "just".
18.Attley (English origin). Means "the meadow".
19.Audley (English origin). Means "from the old meadow".
20.Barcley (Scottish origin). Means "birch tree meadow". Variations include Barkley, Bartley, Berkley.
21.Beverley (English origin). Means "beaver meadow".
22.Bradley (English origin). Means "broad meadow".
23.Kelley (Irish origin). Means "strife" or "war".
24.Kimberley (English origin). Means "meadow of the royal fortress".
25.Lesley (Scottish origin). Means "holly garden".
26.Lynley (English origin). Means "lake" or "pool".
27.Roley (German origin). Means "renowned land".
28.Rowley (English origin). Means "roughly cleared meadow".
29.Shelley (English origin). Means "steep valley".
30.Sulley (English origin). Means "south meadow" or "black eyed".
31.Thornley (English origin). Means "from the clearing of the thorns".
32.Tinley (English origin). Means "Dennis' field".
33.Waverley (English origin). Means "from the brushwood field".
34.Wesley (English origin). Means "west meadow".
35.Westley (English origin). Means "west wood".
36.Wheatley (English origin). Means "from the wheat field".
37.Wiley (English origin) Means "willow wood".
You can't go wrong with a short but sweet name. On the whole, names that finish in ley can be on the long side but there are a handful of top baby names out there that tick the boxes for being both short and with that coveted ley ending.
38.Arley (English origin). Means "hare meadow" or "the bow man".
39.Caley (Irish origin). Means "slender".
40.Conley (Irish origin). Means "hero".
41.Corley (English origin). Means "carefree" or "cheery".
42.Daley (Irish origin). Means "assembly". Variations include Dailey.
43.Earley (English origin). Means "eagle wood".
44.Farley (English origin). Means "fern wood".
Because where celebs lead we tend to follow. Why not take their lead and name your baby boy after a popular celebrity – just remember you're unlikely to be the first if you were hoping for an original and unique name.
45.Ainsley (English origin). Means "wood" or "a clearing". Variations include Ansley.
46.Dudley (English origin). Means "people's field".
47.Macauley (Scottish origin). Means "son of Olaf"
48.Marley (English origin). Means "meadow near the lake".
49.Presley (English origin). Means "priest's meadow".
50.Ridley (English origin). Means "reed meadow".
51.Ripley (English origin). Means "shouting man's meadow".
Many baby names for boys that finish with ley are derived from another name choice: the surname. Choices like Ashley, Bentley, Huntley and Wiley would all be just at home as a surname as they are for a first name. If choosing first names like this then make sure it sits well with your own last name when you read it out together.
52.Astley (Greek origin). Means "starry field".
53.Bailey (English origin). Means "berry cleaning" or "bailiff".
54.Baxley (English origin). Means "baker".
55.Bayley (English origin). Means "bailiff". A variation of Bailey.
56.Bentley (English origin). Means "from the moor".
57.Blakeley (English origin). Means "pale one" or "dark".
58.Brinley (English origin). Means "tawny". Variations include Brynley.
59.Brockley (English origin). Means "badger"
60.Buckley (English origin). Means "male deer" or "goat's wood".
61.Chadley (Welsh origin). Means "battle" or "defender". Variation of Chad.
62.Kingsley (English origin). Means "King's meadow".
63.Quigley (Irish origin). Means "strong".
64.Quinley (English origin). Means"descendant".
65.Radley (English origin). Means "reed meadow".
If you enjoyed these brilliant boy names ending in Ley, and fancy checking out names ending in one letter, we have the best 80 boy named ending in R and 123 of the best boy names ending in L for you.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.