Morley is an English surname turned unisex given name, derived from the Old English words 'mor' meaning 'marsh' and 'leah' signifying 'woodland clearing'. It was initially used as a place name for areas of open land near water, particularly in the north of England. The name first emerged during the Middle Ages, with records dating back to the 13th century. Over time, Morley has evolved from being exclusively associated with surnames to becoming a recognized given name for both boys and girls.
There were no births recorded under the name Morley between 2013 and 2020, with a significant gap of seven years from 2012 to 2019. However, there has been an increase in recent years, with eight births in 2021 and five births in 2022. In total, there have been 42 births named Morley since 1925.