Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Coley
UnisexEnglish· “from an English surname of uncertain meaning”
- Meaning
- from an English surname of uncertain meaning (origin disputed)
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- KOH-lee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #12,185
- US babies 2025
- 7
- Best rank
- #5,988 (2008)
- Peak year
- 2008
Meaning and origin of Coley
Coley is often said to mean “from an English surname of uncertain meaning”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to English roots.
Coley is an English surname of uncertain origin. It may come from a place name or from a nickname meaning coal-black. It is also a short form of Nicholas or Colin, and in British English, coley is a type of fish. As a first name, it is used for both boys and girls. It is said KOH-lee, with the stress on the first syllable. Cole is a related name. Because the meaning is uncertain, families often choose the source they prefer.
Popularity over time
Coley first appears in US Social Security records in 1976. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #5,988 in 2008, the same year it reached its highest count of 23 babies. In 2025, 7 babies were named Coley, and it ranked #12,185 nationally. That is 53% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #13,537 in 2000, #6,979 in 2010, and #12,185 in 2025. Of the 348 US girls named Coley since records began, 36% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 84 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Amrit, Tarin, Adama, Danyel, and Adi.
Gender, sound and spelling
Coley is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 53% of US babies named Coley were girls and 47% were boys.
Coley is usually pronounced KOH-lee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with C and ends in “-ey”.
Middle names for Coley
A few middle names that flow with Coley: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Coley
Similar names
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Lists that include Coley
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Coley mean?
Coley is often said to mean “from an English surname of uncertain meaning”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to English roots.
What is the origin of the name Coley?
Coley has English roots. Coley is an English surname of uncertain origin.
Is Coley a popular name?
Not especially. Coley ranked #12,185 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Coley a boy or girl name?
Coley is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 53% of US babies named Coley were girls and 47% were boys.
How do you pronounce Coley?
Coley is usually pronounced KOH-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