Whitley
Girl name · #677 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Whitley? In official American birth records, Whitley has been tracked continuously since 1984, giving it 41 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 420 baby girls were named Whitley, placing it at #677 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1139, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,286 girls born in 2025 was named Whitley.
The 41-year story
Whitley first appears in the Social Security records in 1984, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1988, when 508 girls were named Whitley — good for #446 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Whitley per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Whitley against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Whitley in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Whitley is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Whitley is most common
Geography matters for names, and Whitley is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Whitley is most common in OK (1.8 per 1,000), MO (1.4 per 1,000), AR (1.1 per 1,000), SC (0.9 per 1,000), TN (0.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.3 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Whitley is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Whitley
Statistically, parents drawn to Whitley tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Arielle, Cecily, Kacey, Hayley, and Whitney.
ArielleCecilyKaceyHayleyWhitneyKelseyMarleyBritney
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Whitley | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 420 | #675 |
| 2024 | 417 | #684 |
| 2023 | 383 | #735 |
| 2022 | 316 | #880 |
| 2021 | 320 | #855 |
| 2020 | 271 | #946 |
| 2019 | 281 | #939 |
| 2018 | 262 | #998 |
| 2017 | 258 | #1005 |
| 2016 | 251 | #1047 |
| 2015 | 222 | #1139 |
| 2014 | 197 | #1235 |
| 2013 | 170 | #1371 |
| 2012 | 157 | #1452 |
| 2011 | 156 | #1446 |
| 2010 | 121 | #1720 |
| 2009 | 106 | #1956 |
| 2008 | 75 | #2511 |
| 2007 | 75 | #2485 |
| 2006 | 81 | #2328 |
| 2005 | 82 | #2225 |
| 2004 | 92 | #1999 |
| 2003 | 83 | #2106 |
| 2002 | 99 | #1805 |
| 2001 | 90 | #1922 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Whitley?
In official American birth records, the name Whitley first appeared in 1984 (over 41 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 41 years.
Is Whitley a popular girl name?
Whitley ranked #677 among girls in 2025 with 420 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1139.
When was the name Whitley most popular?
Whitley peaked in 1988, when 508 American girls received the name (ranked #446 that year). Since 1988 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Whitley?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,286 newborn American girls was named Whitley. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.