If you knew from the first few weeks of pregnancy that you wanted a baby boys name that ended in ley, you've got plenty of time to narrow down the choices.
You certainly won't be alone in plumping for this soft sound at the end of your chosen name. Over the past few decades names that end in the sound ley, (including ly, y, ely) have skyrocketed in popularity.
One of the reasons could be because these names can take on different feelings depending on whether you use the full name or shorten it. For example, Bradley and Ashley have gentler undertones compared to the shorter versions of Brad or Ash. If you opt to use a name that can with the ley ending then you're also giving your son choices – they can choose whether to use the full name or go with the short version.
Picking baby names is a tough challenge but if you already know the end sound you want you're halfway there to finding one you like enough to give your baby son. We've gathered together a wide selection of names to browse, from the super-popular to the wonderfully traditional, as well as some which draw their inspiration from pop culture and celebrity. Many of the names have a nature focus as the ley sound is derived from the old English for wood clearing. If you like the sound of that, you'll love our 50 best boy names ending in Son and our 100 best boy names ending in Er for some more inspiration for name endings.
Earley (English origin). Means "eagle wood".
Argento, Meaning: silvery Origin: Latin ~ View Detail
Arley (English origin). Means "hare meadow" or "the bow man".
Bradley (English origin). Means "broad meadow".
Oakley (English origin). Means "oak tree".
Bentley (English origin). Means "from the moor".
Conley (Irish origin). Means "hero".
Presley (English origin). Means "priest's meadow".
Thornley (English origin). Means "from the clearing of the thorns".
Paine, Meaning: villager, country-dweller Origin: Latin ~ View Detail
Radley (English origin). Means "reed meadow".
Loxley (English origin). Means "glade by the lake".
Ashley (English origin). Means "ash meadow".
Quirino, Meaning: a spearman, a warrior Origin: Latin
Riley (Irish origin). Means "courageous" or "valiant".
Ripley (English origin). Means "shouting man's meadow".
Adley (Hebrew origin). Means "just".
Wesley (English origin). Means "west meadow".
Lesley (Scottish origin). Means "holly garden".
Corley (English origin). Means "carefree" or "cheery".
Rowley (English origin). Means "roughly cleared meadow".
Charley (German origin). Means "free man".
Westley (English origin). Means "west wood".
Lynley (English origin). Means "lake" or "pool".
Fidelis, Origin: Latin
Harley (English origin). Means "hare meadow" or "rock meadow".
Attley (English origin). Means "the meadow".
Stanley (English origin). Means "stony meadow".
Hurley (Irish origin). Means "child of the sea".
Farley (English origin). Means "fern wood".
Roley (German origin). Means "renowned land".
Proctor, Meaning: official, administrator Origin: Latin
Pompey, Meaning: five Origin: Latin
Sarto, Meaning: mender Origin: Latin
Sergeant, Meaning: to serve Origin: Latin
Macauley (Scottish origin). Means "son of Olaf"
Huntley (English origin). Means "hunter's meadow".
Shelley (English origin). Means "steep valley".
Fortney, Meaning: strong one Origin: Latin
Beverley (English origin). Means "beaver meadow".
Audley (English origin). Means "from the old meadow".
Hadley (English origin). Means "heather meadow".
Blakeley (English origin). Means "pale one" or "dark".
Kimberley (English origin). Means "meadow of the royal fortress".
Quigley (Irish origin). Means "strong".
Caley (Irish origin). Means "slender".
Wheatley (English origin). Means "from the wheat field".
Finley (Scottish origin). Means "sunbeam" or "white warrior".
Balbo, Meaning: mutterer Origin: Latin
Sulley (English origin). Means "south meadow" or "black eyed".
Buckley (English origin). Means "male deer" or "goat's wood".
Dudley (English origin). Means "people's field".
Baxley (English origin). Means "baker".
Astley (Greek origin). Means "starry field".
Waverley (English origin). Means "from the brushwood field".
Ridley (English origin). Means "reed meadow".
Tinley (English origin). Means "Dennis' field".
Wiley (English origin) Means "willow wood".
Bailey (English origin). Means "berry cleaning" or "bailiff".
Brockley (English origin). Means "badger"
Marley (English origin). Means "meadow near the lake".
Kingsley (English origin). Means "King's meadow".
Quinley (English origin). Means"descendant".
Huxley (English origin). Means "Hucc's meadow".
Kelley (Irish origin). Means "strife" or "war".
Morrie, Origin: Latin, diminutive of Maurice