How Many People Are Named Stanley?
Complete statistics for the name Stanley: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Stanley is an old English name meaning 'stone clearing' or 'stony meadow', rooted in Old English place-name origins. About 127,951 Stanleys are living in the US today, making it a rare name you don't hear much anymore, roughly 1 in 2,579 Americans. The striking thing is how overwhelmingly it belongs to older generations, a true relic of mid-century America.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 6 is traditionally associated with nurturing, responsibility, and a deep sense of duty toward family and community. People connected to the number 6 are seen as caregivers and peacekeepers who find purpose in supporting those around them.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 81All 302,514 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1954Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Stable
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Stanley Through the Generations
Stanley had a serious moment in the spotlight. It spent 22 years in the US top 10 and peaked in 1954 with 6,472 babies named Stanley in a single year. That's a name that was genuinely everywhere for a while. But the numbers tell a clear story about what happened next: of the roughly 127,951 Stanleys alive today, a remarkable 85% are over 60. That's 255,739 out of the age-tracked population skewing heavily toward the older-generation side. Only 10,723 are under 30, which shows just how completely the name fell out of fashion with younger parents. The gap between all-time births of 302,514 and the living count of 127,951 reflects both natural attrition from an aging population and decades of declining use. The trend is now stable, but stable at a very low level. Stanley isn't making a comeback, it's quietly aging out.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Stanley
Stanley is a toponymic surname, a contraction of stan and leigh (meadow), later also being used as a masculine given name.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Stanley's Old English roots
📄 About the Name Stanley
How Many People Have the Name Stanley?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 91,375 people in the United States currently share the name Stanley. That works out to roughly 1 in every 3,627 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is Stanley a Common or Rare Name?
Stanley is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Stanley Mean?
Stanley means "stony meadow or stone clearing" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 6.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Stanley in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.
When Was Stanley Most Popular?
The name Stanley reached peak popularity in 1954, with 6,472 babies registered that year. Current trend: Stable.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Stanley?
Approximately 91,375 people named Stanley live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 91,375. That works out to roughly 1 in 3,627 Americans.
Is Stanley a rare name?
Stanley is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 3,627 Americans has this name.
What does the name Stanley mean?
Stanley means "stony meadow or stone clearing" and comes from Old English origins.
Is Stanley more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Stanley are male and 1% are female.
When was Stanley most popular?
Stanley peaked in 1954 with 6,472 births that year. Current trend: Stable.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.