Bartley is a rare and unique name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English words "beorht" meaning bright or famous, and "leah" which refers to a wood or clearing. Therefore, Bartley can be translated to mean "bright meadow" or "famous wood".
The name Bartley has a rich history that dates back to the Middle Ages in England. It was often used as a surname before it became a given name. Some of the earliest records of the name include Bartlee de Barton who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Shropshire in 1236, and Bartholomew Bartley who was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of Norfolk in 1273.
Over time, the name Bartley has evolved and become more popular as a given name. Today, it is still relatively uncommon, but can be found throughout the English-speaking world. It is often associated with the town of Bartley in Hampshire, England, which may have contributed to its popularity in that region.
Overall, the name Bartley is unique, meaningful, and has a rich history behind it. Its connection to nature through the words "meadow" and "wood" makes it an appealing choice for parents looking for a distinctive name with deep roots.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe several trends regarding the name Bartley over time in the United States.
From 1886 to 1945, the number of babies named Bartley fluctuated annually, ranging from a low of 5 births in certain years to a high of 23 births in others. However, starting in 1946, there was a notable increase in the popularity of this name, reaching a peak of 68 births in 1959.
This trend continued throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, with the number of babies named Bartley consistently above 20 each year. However, after 1964, there was a significant decline in its popularity, dropping below 30 births per year for the remainder of the decade.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the name Bartley remained relatively uncommon, with an average of around 20-30 births annually. There were some brief periods of increased popularity, such as in 1974 (28 births) and 1985 (27 births), but overall, it was not a frequently chosen name during these decades.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, Bartley continued to be an uncommon name, with fewer than 10 babies named Bartley each year. However, there was a slight resurgence in its popularity recently, with 6 births recorded in 2021.
Over the entire period from 1886 to 2021, there were a total of 1933 babies named Bartley born in the United States. While it has not been among the most popular names throughout history, Bartley does have a distinctive and unique character that has appealed to parents over generations, albeit in varying degrees.