Names That Mean Clearing
Across 4 pages
of 4
Mosley
English place name and surname
"peat bog, mouse clearing"
Mosley has seen a handful of uses — mostly among baby girls — since 2012, the year after Peyton Manning gave it to his daughter. It's much more familiar as a surname, such as that of novelist Walter…
Farley
English
"fern clearing"
Actor Farley Granger set it in motion, now could be a gentler alternative to Harley.
Hedley
English surname
"heather clearing"
A pretty alternative to Hadley, but perhaps a little too close to sound distinctive. Hedy would be a cool nickname, after legendary actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr.
Oaklee
Variation of Oakley, English
"oak clearing"
While Oakley is remarkable even in terms of girl-boy distribution, the Oaklee spelling variation is used much more often on girls.
Hedley
English surname
"heather clearing"
A lively English surname that was popularly given as a male first name in the Victorian period, and is ripe for revival today.
Everlynn
American invented name, variation of Evelyn and Everly, English
"desired; water; island; wild boar in woodland clearing"
Everlynn combines two of the hottest baby names of the moment — Evelyn and Everly — but can't claim either of their histories. Although if you can't decide between the two, Everlynn is the logical…
Ryden
Swedish surname
"woodland clearing"
This trendy-sounding name emerged from the era of Aiden and Jayden and Ryder and Ryker. Many parents may have come to it on their own, but Ryden has ancient roots as a Swedish surname, from the…
Blakelee
Variation of Blakeley, English surname
"dark wood; clearing"
This nouveau spelling of Blakeley was one of the fastest-rising girl names outside of the Top 1000 in 2019, but hasn't grown in popularity since then. It is given to around 110 girls each year in the…
Knightley
English
"servant clearing"
Keira Knightley made her first name famous, single-handedly changing the most popular spelling from Kiera to Keira. Now we're moving on to use her last name as baby name inspiration. Knightley is a…
Everley
English
"boar in a woodland clearing"
One of the many variations of Everly, but more surname-y in appearance. It is used less than Everly, Everleigh or Everlee and it doesn't appear in the popularity charts yet, however, with all the…
Attlee
English
"by the clearing or meadow"
A surname with a currently popular sound, reminiscent of Atlas and Hadley. This spelling is less popular in the States, but is the version worn by 1940s UK Prime Minister Clement Attlee.
Hinckley
English
"Hynca's clearing"
An English place name, belonging to a town in Leicestershire, England, and several in the USA. It is occasionally used as a name, in the style of Hadley and Henley.
Rushlee
English place name
"rush clearing"
In the same unisex placename/surname style as Oakley and Hadlee, this name makes total sense but has never been on the American charts. Rushlee Buchanan is a New Zealand Olympic cyclist.
Ansley
English
"clearing with a hermitage"
Part Ashley, part Ainsley, part Annie, Ansley featured in the US Top 1000 from the late '90s until 2020. It peaked in 2011 when it nearly reached the Top 600, but has declined in recent years. An…
Everlyn
American invented name, variation of Evelyn and Everly, English
"desired; water; island; wild boar in woodland clearing"
Everlyn is one of the countless new spin on Evelyn and sisters, this generation's answer to Caitlin and Michaela. Evelyn, recently in the US Top 10, has been around as a name for a long time, once…
Bradley
English
"broad clearing"
Fading boys' name making fresh start for girls, aided by -ley ending. About 50 baby girls were named Bradley last year in the US, versus 900 baby boys. Bradley got a boost as a girls' name via the…
Shelley
English
"clearing on a bank"
The Shirley of the 1950s. Shelley Winters was born a Shirley.
Ripley
English
"strip of clearing in the woods"
With its surname-style, literary feel, and similarity in sound to Finley, Juniper, Pippa, Riley, and Presley, Ripley is an unexpected choice that was given to more than 200 girls in each recent year.…
Yardley
English surname
"wood clearing"
Yardley, a surname redolent of British soaps and perfume, was used for her daughter by Megyn Kelly. Yeardley Smith (born Martha), has long been the voice of Bart on The Simpsons .
Blakely
English
"dark wood or clearing"
A decade or two ago, we might have stopped with Blake, but today the surname Blakely or Blakeley sounds more modern as a first name.