Woodley is an uncommon given name of English origin, derived from Old English words 'wudu' meaning 'wood' and 'leah' signifying 'clearings'. This name was traditionally used for boys but has also been occasionally given to girls in recent times. It gained some popularity during the late Middle Ages in England but fell out of fashion thereafter. Today, it is considered a rare and unique choice for parents seeking a distinctive name for their child. The name Woodley does not have any specific pronunciation variations across different cultures or languages.
The name Woodley experienced varied popularity over the years, with a significant increase observed recently. The highest number of births recorded was in 2023, with 20 newborns named Woodley. However, this is an outlier as most years had fewer than 10 births with that name. The majority of births (195) occurred between 1970 and 2023, while the fewest were recorded in the early 20th century, ranging from 5 to 10 births annually between 1918 and 1947.