Originating from Britain, the name Brentley is of English derivation, meaning 'from the broad clearing'. It's a unique blend of the elements 'Brent' and 'Leigh', both of which have their own historical and geographical significance. The prefix 'Brent' is derived from the Old English word 'brent', signifying 'burnt', while 'Leigh' comes from the Old English word 'leah', meaning 'woodland clearing'. Therefore, Brentley could be interpreted as 'from the burnt woodland clearing'. This name gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century and has since maintained a steady presence.
The name Brentley experienced a slow start with only seven births recorded in 1989. It took over a decade for the popularity to pick up again, with fewer than five births per year from 1990 to 2005. The turning point came in 2006, when there were 12 births, marking the beginning of a consistent increase in the name's usage. Between 2011 and 2014, Brentley reached its peak popularity with over 23 births each year. However, it has since declined, averaging around 12 to 14 births annually from 2015 onwards. Despite fluctuations, Brentley remains a distinctive name choice with a total of 284 births recorded between 1989 and 2023.