Names that end in y

Stormy is on the rise following the birth of Kylie Jenner's daughter Stormi, although the starbaby's spelling has taken over the lead.

Stormy

Charity is one of the Big Three abstract virtue names, along with Hope and Faith, though far less widely used than the others. But as Faith, Grace and Hope grow more common, some parents are beginning to look at the more unusual three-syllable choices like Verity, Amity, Clarity and Charity, which sound much fresher and also have that pleasingly rhythmic 'y'-ending sound.
 In the Dickens novel Martin Chuzzlewit, there are two sisters named Charity and Mercy, who are known as Cherry and Merry.
 In the musical Sweet Charity the title character, Charity Hope Valentine, is an all too charitable girl with a heart of gold. In the novel"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" Charity Burbage is a Muggle Studies teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and in Two Broke Girls there's an Aunt Charity who's not very charitable.
 Charity was in the Top 500 in the 1880's and 1890's, remained in the Top 1000 until 1927 when it dropped from sight, then reappeared in 1968. For a period in the 1970's and eighties, Charity was a Top 300 name.

Charity

Familiar to many by means of the spelling Hershey — as in the chocolate company, named for founder Milton Hershey. Surprisingly, the Hershy spelling was given to significantly more baby boys in recent years than Hershey — 71 versus 10.

Hershy

Gentle yet rugged, cool but well established, Shay is straightforward and memorable. An anglicized spelling of the Irish Shea ("dauntless, fine, good" "hawk") and the Hebrew Shai ("gift"), Shay appeared in the Top 100 in Ireland and the Top 400 in England and Wales in a recent year.
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Also used as to describe a kind of horse-drawn carriage and sometimes used as a short form of Seamus, Shay has dropped in an out of the US Top 1000 since the 70s, most recently appearing on the charts in the 2020s for girls. In fact, it currently given twice as often to girls in the States than it is to boys (208: 98).

Shay

A rarely used play on Amber, making it more feminine and both more modern and old-fashioned at the same time.

Amberly

The popular -ley suffix can be credited for this name's use in recent years. We're not loving that it sounds as trendy and of-the-moment as it is.

Brentley

Can one prominent character affect the gender identity of a name? Definitely, as has supernatural bad girl Ridley Duchannes of the Beautiful Creatures series-turned-movie, played by the gorgeous Emmy Rossum. 
 
 Before Duchannes, director Ridley Scott all but owned this unusual surname and so gave it a male spin, but it feels girl-appropriate too, thanks to the afore mentioned character and actor Daisy Ridley. The trendy -ley ending helps it along, as it could easily fit in with Wrenley, Hadley, Presley, and similar.
 
Given to around 100 girls in each recent year, it peaked in 2018 when 124 girls received the name, along with 90 boys.

Ridley

Gentry is a word name that's gaining ground for girls as a kind of updated Jennifer, especially in the Jentry (or Jentri or Jentree) spelling.

Gentry

Goldy originated as an affectionate diminutive of the English word 'gold,' symbolizing something precious and valuable. Often used as a nickname, it has evolved into a standalone given name with Yiddish origins particularly used in Jewish communities. The name evokes warmth, brightness, and prosperity through its connection to the precious metal. Goldy has a friendly, cheerful quality that feels both vintage and warmly familiar. While never among the most popular names in the United States or other English-speaking countries, it maintains steady usage within certain cultural communities. The name carries connotations of light, optimism, and value, making it a subtly meaningful choice.

Goldy

A surname-style name with a flowing sound and an easy-going feel, Callaway derives from the French place name, Caillouet-Orgeville, which ultimately comes from the Norman word for "pebble". Also spelled as Calloway, it is alternatively seen as a variation of the Scottish Galloway meaning "place of the foreign Gaels".
 
A recent year saw this form given to 67 boys and 58 girls in the US, while Calloway was chosen for 87 boys and 22 girls.

Callaway

Pugnacious and spunky like the young Mickey Rooney and the original Mickey Mouse, but virtually never given to babies today. 

Mickey

Navany

Huntley was best known as Brinkley's fellow news anchor back in the 60s and 70s, while in the UK, it might still be linked to a high profile murder case. Nevertheless, this surname style choice feels tough, trendy, preppy, and outdoorsy at the same time and may fit in with the likes of Hunter, Wesley, and Bentley.
 
As of 2024, the name is a truly neutral choice, given to 102 girls and 98 boys.

Huntley

With Henley and Kinsley two of the most popular new ley-ending <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">baby names for girls</a>, why not Hensley? We can think of several reasons, but if you like this style of name, Hensley is as attractive as any.

Hensley

Angely is a feminine name with multiple possible origins, most likely derived from Angela or Angelina, ultimately coming from the Greek word 'angelos' meaning 'messenger' or 'angel.' This modern variation has a delicate, ethereal quality with its soft ending sound. Popular particularly in Hispanic communities and French-speaking regions, Angely combines spiritual associations with a contemporary feel. The name has gained moderate popularity in recent decades as parents seek names with traditional roots but distinctive forms. Angely strikes a balance between familiarity and uniqueness, offering a fresh alternative to more common angel-derived names. Its gentle sound pattern and heavenly associations give it an inherent sweetness and grace that appeals to many parents.

Angely

Fredy is a masculine name that functions as a diminutive form of Frederick or Alfred. This shorter variant has roots in Germanic language traditions, where 'fred' means 'peace.' The name appears across multiple cultures, including Hispanic communities where it's often spelled this way rather than the more Anglicized 'Freddie.' Fredy has a friendly, approachable quality while maintaining its connection to more formal traditional names. Though not among the most popular names in recent decades, Fredy offers a casual, unpretentious option that works well across diverse cultures. The name carries a timeless quality that neither feels outdated nor overly trendy.

Fredy

Director Ridley Scott and actress Daisy Ridley made this surname-style name familiar, and with its outdoorsy meaning and rugged yet preppy sound, it could blend in with Oakley, Reid, Riley, and Ridge. Some parents might be put of by the first syllable (as in, "get rid of" or "horrid" or "riddles"), but since Scarlett (scar), Colton (cult), and Titus all rank in the Top 400, it could still work for those looking for a standout last-name first name. 
 
Given to a little under 100 boys each year, it is currently more popular for girls. But Ridley's usage has been climbing since the 2010s and would make for an attractice gender neutral pick.

Once a popular choice in for boys in the Middle Ages and again during the 19th century, Aubrey has mostly been used for girls in the US since the 1970's. With its arty, surname-y, and sophisticated feel, however, it is rising up the UK charts for both boys and girls. 
Derived from the Auberi, an Old French variant of Alberich, Aubrey means "elf ruler". Up until the 50's, it was relatively well known for boys in the US, but with the release of the song "Aubrey" by Bread in 1972, the scales tipped. 
Despite this, there are still memorable male bearers of the name, including rapper Drake, whose full name is Aubrey Drake Graham; the 19th century illustrator Aubrey Beardsley; and the central character of John Polidori's novel The Vampyre. 
Used on only a tiny handful of boys each year in the US, in the UK, Aubrey is currently in the Top 250 for girls, but also the Top 600 for boys. This means it is given to boys 5 times more often in the UK, than it is the US. 
Gentle, cool and handsome, Aubrey fits in with the recent interest in softer boys names and in surnames-as-given-names. Plus, with Ellis, Mckenzie, Hadley, Casey, and Oakley in use, Aubrey might see further gains.

Aubrey

Shaindy is a feminine Yiddish name primarily used in Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish communities. It likely originated as a diminutive form of names like Shaindel or Shayna, deriving from the Yiddish word 'shayn' meaning 'beautiful' or 'pretty.' The '-dy' ending creates an affectionate, familiar quality characteristic of Yiddish naming patterns. Shaindy remains relatively common within traditional Jewish communities in Israel, the United States (particularly in New York), and other centers of Orthodox Jewish life. Outside these communities, the name is rarely encountered. Shaindy represents a meaningful connection to Ashkenazi Jewish heritage and Yiddish language traditions, often chosen by families maintaining traditional naming practices that honor ancestors while conveying positive attributes and blessings for the child.

Shaindy

This spelling variation of the popular girls' nickname ranks behind the more traditional form—Allie (Number 255). This spelling could be hurt by the word name ally, which bears a different pronunciation.