Stanley

English

"near the stony clearing"

Stanley Origin and Meaning

The name Stanley is a boy's name of English origin meaning "near the stony clearing".

Although Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire personified brute force, most Stanleys have been portrayed as meek milquetoasts. It could be a Sydney-like girls' choice.-Bette Davis once played a character named Stanley, and it was the name of President Obama's mother (named for her father)--or possibly could be revived down the line a la Walter and Arthur.

Stanley came to popularity initially via the explorer Sir Henry Morton Stanley, who made historic contact with Dr. Livingston ('I presume?') in Africa in 1871. Noted US namesakes include movie directors Stanley Kramer and Stanley Kubrick and actor Stanley Tucci.

Stanley had a long run in the Top 100--from 1890 to 1959.

• 680 US 2019
• 773 Nameberry 2021
• 67 England 2019
• 679 2028 2028