Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Blakely
GirlEnglish, Old English· “dark clearing”
- Meaning
- dark clearing
- Origin
- English, Old English
- Pronunciation
- BLAYK-lee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #191
- US babies 2025
- 1,638
- Best rank
- #156 (2021)
- Peak year
- 2024
Meaning and origin of Blakely
Blakely is an English and Old English name that is usually said to mean “dark clearing”.
Blakely comes from an English surname that began as a place name, built from Old English blæc, meaning dark or black, and leah, meaning a woodland clearing or meadow. Because the related word blāc meant pale, some sources suggest the opposite sense, so the exact shade is uncertain. Like many English place-name surnames, Blakely moved into first-name use in the United States, where it is chosen mainly for girls. It shares its crisp sound with Blake and its friendly ending with names like Kinsley and Oakley. Blakely feels modern and preppy, with Blake and Kelly as easy nicknames.
Other spellings with the same sound: Blakeley.
Popularity over time
Blakely first appears in US Social Security records in 1969. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 15 different years, starting in 2011. Its best national rank was #156 in 2021, and the most babies received it in 2024, when 1,892 were named Blakely. In 2025, 1,638 babies were named Blakely, and it ranked #191 nationally. That is 78% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #4,345 in 1980, #2,595 in 2000, #1,077 in 2010, and #191 in 2025. Of the 20,802 US girls named Blakely since records began, 51% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 8,759 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Phoebe, Alani, Oaklynn, Ailani, and Blair.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Blakely ranked highest in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Alabama.
Gender, sound and spelling
About 98% of US babies named Blakely over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Blakely is usually pronounced BLAYK-lee, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with B and ends in “-ly”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Blakeley.
Middle names for Blakely
A few middle names that flow with Blakely: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Blakely
Similar names
Holly Girl
HAH-lee
“the holly tree” · English
#416
Haily Girl
HAY-lee
“variant of Hailey: hay clearing” · English
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Lilly Girl
LIH-lee
“lily flower” · English
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Tilly Girl
TIH-lee
“strength in battle” · English
#885
Shelly Girl
SHEH-lee
“variant of Shelley, "clearing on a bank"” · English
#5,884
Lily Girl
LIH-lee
“lily flower” · English
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Peyton Unisex
PAY-tuhn
“Pacca's town” · English
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Hailey Girl
HAY-lee
“hay clearing” · English
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Hayden Unisex
HAY-duhn
“hay valley” · English
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Sydney Girl
SIHD-nee
“from an English surname and place name” · Old English
#348
Kimberly Girl
KIHM-bur-lee
“from an English place name” · Old English
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Payton Girl
PAY-tuhn
“from an English place name” · Old English
#440
Lists that include Blakely
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Blakely mean?
Blakely is an English and Old English name that is usually said to mean “dark clearing”.
What is the origin of the name Blakely?
Blakely has English and Old English roots. Blakely comes from an English surname that began as a place name, built from Old English blæc, meaning dark or black, and leah, meaning a woodland clearing or meadow.
Is Blakely a popular name?
Yes. Blakely ranked #191 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Blakely a boy or girl name?
Blakely is mainly a girl's name. About 98% of US babies named Blakely over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Blakely?
Blakely is usually pronounced BLAYK-lee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings