Yardley is an uncommon yet distinctive given name of English origin. It derives from Old English elements 'geard' meaning garden, enclosure and 'leah' which signifies clearing or wood. Thus, Yardley translates to 'garden in the wood clearing'. This name has a historical association with Yardley Gobion, a village in Northamptonshire, England. However, it is not particularly popular as a first name, likely due to its uniqueness.
The name Yardley experienced a notable resurgence in popularity from 2011 onwards, with each of those years seeing double-digit birth counts, peaking at 11 births per year between 2011 and 2013. Before this, the name's usage was quite sporadic, with fewer than ten births annually. After 2021, it seems to have declined again, with only seven births recorded that year.