Whaley is a unique and distinctive given name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English word "hwael," which means "whale." The name was likely used as a surname originally, possibly for someone who had the occupation of catching whales or who lived near the coast where whales were commonly seen.
The first recorded use of the name Whaley as a given name is in the 17th century. However, it is still relatively rare today and is considered to be an uncommon choice for a child's name. Despite its rarity, Whaley has a certain charm and uniqueness that makes it stand out.
In terms of popularity, Whaley has never made it onto the Social Security Administration's list of most popular baby names in the United States. However, there are some famous individuals who bear this unusual name, such as American actor and comedian David Alan Whaley, born in 1945.
Overall, Whaley is a unique and distinctive given name with an interesting history and meaning behind it. While it may not be the most common choice for a child's name today, its rarity adds to its charm and uniqueness.
The statistics regarding the given name Whaley show a consistent presence over time in the United States. Specifically, according to available records, there were 5 babies named Whaley born in the year 1938. This number increased slightly eight years later, with a total of 6 babies being given the name Whaley in the year 1947.
In sum, over these two decades (1930s to 1940s), there were a total of 11 births registered for the name Whaley across the United States. This data point suggests that while the name may not have been extremely popular during this time period, it was nonetheless present in the naming choices of parents throughout these years.