Whitley
Every Whitley since 1914 — 8,991 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Whitley
Whitley is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #677 in 2025 with 420 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1914, 8,991 American babies have been named Whitley — about 91% girls and 9% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1988, when 521 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1980s.
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 Whitley stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Whitley 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 | 420 | #677 | 88 | #1,823 |
| 2024 | 417 | #684 | 77 | #2,009 |
| 2023 | 383 | #736 | 79 | #1,967 |
| 2022 | 316 | #884 | 63 | #2,298 |
| 2021 | 320 | #859 | 50 | #2,619 |
| 2020 | 271 | #946 | 37 | #3,133 |
| 2019 | 281 | #943 | 47 | #2,735 |
| 2018 | 262 | #998 | 44 | #2,792 |
| 2017 | 258 | #1,008 | 42 | #2,887 |
| 2016 | 251 | #1,047 | 33 | #3,437 |
| 2015 | 222 | #1,144 | 16 | #5,733 |
| 2014 | 197 | #1,239 | 14 | #6,291 |
| 2013 | 170 | #1,377 | 15 | #5,904 |
| 2012 | 157 | #1,456 | 11 | #7,526 |
| 2011 | 156 | #1,453 | 8 | #9,555 |
| 2010 | 121 | #1,737 | 6 | #12,143 |
| 2009 | 106 | #1,978 | 5 | #14,412 |
| 2008 | 75 | #2,535 | 7 | #10,986 |
| 2007 | 75 | #2,507 | 6 | #12,295 |
| 2006 | 81 | #2,351 | 9 | #8,684 |
| 2005 | 82 | #2,238 | 9 | #8,265 |
| 2004 | 92 | #2,018 | — | — |
| 2003 | 83 | #2,123 | — | — |
| 2002 | 99 | #1,820 | — | — |
| 2001 | 90 | #1,940 | — | — |
| 2000 | 104 | #1,704 | — | — |
| 1995 | 140 | #1,228 | 6 | #8,831 |
| 1990 | 432 | #549 | 16 | #3,772 |
| 1985 | — | — | 6 | #6,507 |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | 5 | #4,579 |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | 6 | #3,818 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Whitley in 2025?
Whitley ranked #677 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 420 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Whitley?
8,991 babies have been named Whitley in the United States since 1914, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Whitley most popular?
Whitley peaked in 1988, when 521 newborns received the name.
Is Whitley a boy or girl name?
Whitley is used for both: about 91% of babies named Whitley have been girls and 9% boys.
Is the name Whitley rising or falling?
Whitley is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.