Baby Name of the Day: Presley

The baby name Presley fits with our love of surname names, especially those borrowed from rock stars.

Thanks to Kel for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME PRESLEY MEAN?

An English surname name, Presley means priest’s meadow, from the Old English elements preost – priest – and leah – clearing. It referred to land belonging to the church. 

In the United States, it’s also an Americanized version of German surnames like Pressler, which was originally borrowed from a place name. 

But meaning and origin aside, the baby name Presley has one immediate association, and that’s the birth of rock and roll.

ELVIS PRESLEY

Born in Tupelo, Mississippi and growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, a young Elvis was surrounded by music. In 1956, he recorded “Heartbreak Hotel” and became an overnight sensation. He quickly added actor to his resume, appearing in Love Me Tender that same year.

Presley’s style borrowed from African American musicians. In many ways, he repackaged their craft. He freely acknowledged the debt during his lifetime. Fellow musicians like Little Richard credited Elvis for opening the door for their music to find a wider audience. And yet it’s complicated – Elvis became the King of Rock and Roll thanks to all those earlier, less-acknowledged artists.

All these years later, he remains an icon and a household name. 

That’s true even though movies like Priscilla have continued to re-examine his personal life. With young actors like Jacob Elordi and Austin Butler playing Presley, a younger generation absolutely knows his name.

SURNAME NAMES AS FIRST NAMES

We’ve always used family surnames as given names.

In earlier generations, it was almost always to cement a family tie. A son was given a mother’s maiden name; a daughter had a family surname tucked in the middle spot.

Some of those choices have always broken through to become mainstream favorites. Think of aristocratic British family names, like Clarence. Or names popularized by performers, like Shirley (Temple). Middle names can be promoted to firsts, too, like author (Nelle) Harper Lee. 

But by the 1980s and 90s, we were choosing surname names simply because we liked the sound. By the mid-1990s, Tyler ranked in the boys’ Top Ten, while Taylor made the girls’ list. 

That trend accelerated into the 21st century.

Today, a girl’s name like Avery or a boy’s name like Carter is so common that we don’t give it a second thought. 

While they might be family names, we also choose names as a nod to our heroes. That might means sports (Brady, Baker) and it often means music (Hendrix, Lennon). And sometimes it just comes down to a stylish sound.

The baby name Presely fits right in.

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME PRESLEY?

The US Social Security Administration reports any name given to at least five boys or five girls, stretching all the way back to the year 1880.

And in 1880? Presley was listed as the given name of five boys, so it has always appeared in the popularity data.

Usage increased for girls beginning in 1977, with seven births. That’s the year, of course, that Presley passed away.

During the musician’s life, the name remained in steady use, in small numbers for boys. The name Elvis spiked during the 1950s, almost certainly in homage. 

But recent decades, long after the singer’s death, brought a rise in the name Presley.

The name crossed gender lines in 1990, becoming more popular for our daughters for the very first time. One possible reason? 1990 brought a limited series about the early days of Elvis.

Presley debuted in the girls’ Top 1000 in 1998. It was the age of little girls named Madison, Mackenzie, and Shelby. Marley, as in Bob, was rising, too. 

It peaked around the year 2017. As of the year 2024, the baby name Presley ranked #224 for girls. It was given to 95 boys that year, too. 

Worth noting: unlike many surname names, like Peyton and Finley, Presley tends to be perceived as feminine.

POLISHED AND MODERN

Overall, the baby name Presley is polished and modern. It follows former favorites like Ashley and Hailey. And while it’s forever wedded to the legacy of Elvis, it’s also been used so steadily that many parents probably shrug off that association.

It could be the perfect name for parents after something well-established that reads feminine, but also feels very much a 21st century choice. 

What do you think of the baby name Presley?