Names that end in y

Delainey is a feminine name that evolved as a modern variant of Delaney, which itself originated as an Irish surname derived from the Gaelic 'Ó Dubhshláine,' meaning 'descendant of Dubhshláine.' The personal name element 'dubh' means 'dark' or 'black,' while 'sláine' relates to 'health' or 'defiance.' This spelling with the added 'i' emerged as surnames began transitioning to first names, giving it a more feminine appearance. Delainey gained modest popularity in the 1990s and 2000s, riding the wave of interest in Irish-derived names and surnames-as-first-names. The name carries a contemporary yet substantial quality, blending traditional Irish heritage with modern styling. Its melodic three-syllable rhythm and soft ending sound contribute to its appeal. Parents might choose Delainey for its distinctive quality while still maintaining connections to Irish heritage and familiar naming patterns.

Delainey

Lovers of Esme and Ayla might also like this beautiful Turkish name, with its mysterious, moonstruck meaning. The last syllable sounds like "rye", rather than with ray. 
 
A notable bearer was Esmeray Diriker, an Afro-Turkish singer, known for her psychedelic rock music.

Esmeray

An established place name, associated with a sunny island in the English Channel, the Garden State in the US, knitted pullovers, reality TV, and a Broadway musical. It peaked in the late 2000s and though it is now in decline, 130 girls and nearly 50 boys received the name in 2023. 
 -ey meaning "island". Alternative theories suggest it comes from jarl ,meaning "earl" or hjǫr meaning "sword".

Jersey

Harley is a tough guy, while the rhyming Marley has a softer, gentler image. The name brings to mind reggae great Bob Marley, as well as the lovable dog from bestseller Marley and Me.
 
Marley is among the <a href="https://nameberry.com/unisex-names">top unisex names</a> in the US today.

Marley

Scotty is a masculine name that originated as a diminutive form of Scott, which itself began as a surname referring to a person from Scotland. This friendly, approachable nickname has occasionally been used as a given name in its own right, particularly in the mid-20th century. Scotty has a distinctly casual, boyish charm that some parents find appealing for its warmth and accessibility. The name gained cultural recognition through various fictional characters, including Star Trek's Chief Engineer Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott. While traditional as a nickname, Scotty as a formal given name peaked in popularity in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. It carries associations with loyalty, practicality, and an unpretentious nature. Some parents may choose it to honor Scottish heritage or family members named Scott.

Scotty

The girls have Violet and Scarlet and Ruby and Rose, but for the boys there's a much more limited palette of color names. Gray (or Grey), is one exception, which could make for a soft and evocative--if slightly somber-- choice, especially in the middle. Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney recently named their son Leo Grey.
 A common surname, Gray/Grey is still an unusual first name choice--it hasn't made it into the Top 1000 in this century--while longer forms Grayson and Greyson are climbing rapidly, with Grayson at Number 97, and his twin at 200.
 The best known bearer of the name, former Governor Gray Davis of California, was born Joseph Graham Davis, Jr, and others with Gray names include Graydon Carter (born Edward Graydon), editor of "Vanity Fair," and Grayer, the child in "The Nanny Diaries."

Gray

A nickname of yesteryear that like alongside Reggie, Alby, Archie, and Bertie, is back in consideration. Already in the UK Top 200, a high-ranking choice in Switzerland and a familiar option in The Netherlands and France, this friendly feeling short from of Leonard might appeal to those who like Freddie and Teddy.

In the US, Lenny hasn't quite caught on, but it is on the rise, given to 133 boys and 50 girls in a recent year. It may have been helped along by the rise of Lennox and Lennon, and by the fact many classrooms have now dropped Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men from the curriculum.

Lenny

Kailey

Another old-school nickname getting new attention thanks to TV's Mad Men. Names like Fred, Pete, and George have been out so long it's time for them to come back in. It reentered the US Top 1000 in 2015 following a two-year absence from the list. It currently ranks Number 199 in England and Wales.

Freddy

Emry is a shortened form of the popular Emery, which now ranks in the Top 100 girl names in the US. Emry has not yet hit the Top 1000 but was given to about 200 babies in the US last year, about 80 percent of those girls.

Emry

Aracely is a feminine name with Spanish origins, particularly popular in Latin American countries like Mexico. It likely derives from Araceli, which comes from the Latin phrase "ara caeli" meaning "altar of heaven" or "altar of the sky." The name has religious connections, as Ara Coeli is also the name of a basilica in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Aracely has a melodious quality with its flowing syllables and soft ending. In the United States, the name saw modest popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, particularly in Hispanic communities. The variations Araceli and Aracely both remain in use, with the latter offering a slightly more contemporary feel while maintaining the name's beautiful meaning and cultural connections.

Aracely

Jacoby, a surname spin on Jacob shot up the charts in the middle of the 2000's, thanks largely to the popularity of Jacoby Ellsbury, the first Native American of Navajo descent in the Major Leagues, but has been dropping steadily since it peaked at Number 423 in 2008. As of 2022, it dropped out of the US Top 1000 and is given to around 170 boys each year.

Jacoby

Overly-streamlined Leslie variation holding on at the bottom of the Top 1000.

Lesly

Though rarely heard now, Coy has been around for a century and was not an uncommon name a hundred years ago. There have been a couple of NFL players named Coy, Coy Bowles is in the Zac Brown band, and of course there was Coy Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard. Due to the flirty connotations of the word "coy", McCoy is a more popular and recommended choice today.

Smart and preppy, but with plenty of heart, Hartley is a surname style name that could work as an alternative to the popular Harley, Harlowe, Harper, and Hadley. Quietly used for boys throughout the 20th century, Hartley took off for girls in 2010 after both Sugar Ray singer Mark McGrath and baseball player Matt Cain used the name for their daughters.
 
Ultimately deriving from a place name, it comes from the Old English words heorot meaning "stag, male deer" and leah meaning "meadow, clearing". They come together to make a name that evokes images of English parks, while also feeling stylish and contemporary. 
 
Used by poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge for his son, giving it a hint of literary flair, the name is also a jam and marmalade manufacturer in the UK, which might put some people off.
 
In the US, it is now predominantly used as a girls name, given to four girls for every one boy. It doubled in use after the two celebrity-baby-Hartleys were born in the early 2010s, and is currently given to 130 girls.

Hartley

Ailany has been a big hit in the 2020s, and this Eliana variant is following in its footsteps. A spin on the sunny Eliana, it first appeared in the US stats back in 2001 and has been used quietly ever since, but a recent year saw it jump in popularity when it was given to nearly 150 girls.
 
A Top 20 name in the Dominican Republic, content creator Elianny Yánez is a notable bearer.

Elianny

Calloway is one of those irresistibly jaunty, animated three-syllable surnames, like Sullivan, Rafferty and Finnegan — but this one has the added attraction of jazzy ties to the immortal "Dean of American Jive," Cab Calloway. With its melodic sound, its similarity to Callahan, Caleb, Waylon, and Callum, and its fun, nature meaning, Calloway is a quietly rising choice in the US, given to 87 boys (and 22 girls) in a recent year. 

Calloway

We can't account for the popularity of this name, for either a boy or a girl, given the first syllable, the tacky connotations with a luxury car, and the range of other options which are more harmonious to the ear. Nonetheless, nearly 200 girls were names Bentley in the US in 2015.

Bentley

Fun, friendly and fresher than Jo or Josie as a nickname for Joanna or Josephine. Joey can be thought of as one of the Stevie/Billie/Frankie boyish nicknames for girls so fashionable today.

Joey

If you love Puritan virtue names and want to move beyond Hope and Faith and Grace, this is a wonderful choice, both for its meaning and its sound. A rare find here, though occasionally heard in England. It was used in Winston Graham's Poldark novels, was Madonna's name as James Bond's fencing instructor in Die Another Day, and made a brief appearance in Harry Potter. Not to mention being a fixture on British and Australian soaps. Verity also appears in one of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple mysteries.
 We love the newer sounding three-syllable, 'y'-ending virtue names, and Verity is one of the best.