Halley is a unique and distinctive name of English origin. It is derived from the surname "Hall", which has its roots in Old English and means "from the hall". The name Halley gained prominence through the astronomer Edmund Halley, after whom the famous comet is named. Although it was initially used more as a surname, over time it has evolved into a given name for both boys and girls. The name Halley does not have a specific meaning beyond its association with the astronomical phenomenon, but its rarity makes it stand out as an interesting choice for parents looking for something different.
The name Halley saw a significant increase in popularity from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, with over 330 births recorded in both 1985 and 1986 alone. However, since then, there has been a steady decline, with fewer than 50 Halley's born each year since 2014. Despite this decrease, the name remains in use, with 47 births recorded in 2022 and 49 in 2023. In total, over the course of these statistics (1910-2023), there have been 4006 Halley's born.