Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1915

Perley

Meaning A male given name transferred from the surname Gender Boy · 3% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists

A male given name transferred from the surname.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Perley
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1915
30 babies
All-time total
1,052
#5,075 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Perley popularity over time

1,052 babies have been named Perley since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.060.130.190.2518801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – 118 118 12 – #341
1890s 5 88 93 9 -21% #438
1900s – 58 58 6 -38% #717
1910s – 179 179 18 +209% #1,176
1920s 5 220 225 23 +26% #1,492
1930s 11 175 186 19 -17% #1,274
1940s 11 106 117 12 -37% #1,326
1950s – 62 62 6 -47% #2,180
1960s – 14 14 1 -77% #3,004
1970s – – – – – –
1980s – – – – – –
1990s – – – – – –
2000s – – – – – –
2010s – – – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – – – –

The story of Perley

Perley is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1880, 1,052 American babies have been named Perley. Its peak came in 1915, when 30 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Perley stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Perley?

The median living Perley is about 79 years old; half are between 73 and 85. An estimated 100 people named Perley are alive in the United States today.

median 79 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Perley year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 – – – –
2022 – – – –
2021 – – – –
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – – –
2017 – – – –
2016 – – – –
2015 – – – –
2014 – – – –
2013 – – – –
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – – –
2007 – – – –
2006 – – – –
2005 – – – –
2004 – – – –
2003 – – – –
2002 – – – –
2001 – – – –
2000 – – – –
1995 – – – –
1990 – – – –
1985 – – – –
1980 – – – –
1975 – – – –
1970 – – – –
1965 – – – –
1960 – – – –
1955 – – 11 #2,523
1950 – – 13 #2,180
1945 5 #5,084 10 #2,358
1940 – – 26 #1,326
1935 – – 13 #2,105
1930 – – 26 #1,457
1925 – – 24 #1,569
1920 – – 26 #1,492
1915 – – 30 #1,209
1910 – – – –
1905 – – 7 #1,064
1900 – – 6 #1,277
1895 – – 5 #1,208
1890 5 #1,489 11 #624
1885 – – 12 #571
1880 – – 18 #420

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Perley, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Perley?

The median living Perley is about 79 years old. Half of all living Perleys are between 73 and 85 years old.

How many people named Perley are alive today?

An estimated 100 people named Perley are alive in the United States, based on 1,052 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Perley mean?

A male given name transferred from the surname.

How popular is the name Perley in 2025?

Perley did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Perley?

1,052 babies have been named Perley in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Perley most popular?

Perley peaked in 1915, when 30 newborns received the name.

Is Perley a boy or girl name?

Perley is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 97% of babies with the name.

Is the name Perley rising or falling?

Perley has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Perley

Names that sound and feel close to Perley: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Perley with similar names → More names starting with P →