Colley is of English origin and means 'coal miner'. It was once used as a nickname for men who worked in coal mines, particularly in the North of England during the Industrial Revolution. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English word 'col', meaning 'charcoal'. Colley was also sometimes used as a short form of the given names Coll or Coyle, which both have similar meanings related to coal.
The name Colley peaked in popularity during the late seventies and mid-eighties with 8 babies named Colley born in 1979, but saw a dip to 5 births each in 1981 and 1986. Over these years, there were a total of 18 babies named Colley.