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Oakley vs Marlowe

Which is more popular?
Oakley is more popular than Marlowe today: about 1,933 US babies were given the name Oakley in 2025, compared with 575 named Marlowe.
OakleyMarlowe
Meaning oak clearing or meadow remnants of a drained lake (place name)
Origin english english
Gender Unisex Unisex
Pronunciation OHK-lee MAR-loh
Syllables 2 2
First appeared19131918
Peak year2025 (1,933)2025 (575)
In 20251,933575
TrendNear its peakNear its peak
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Oakley Marlowe
192019401960198020002020

Source: US Social Security Administration.

Births by decade

DecadeOakleyMarlowe
2020s 10,227 2,327
2010s 4,472 1,872
2000s 464 250
1990s 124 77
1980s 11 68
1970s 0 68
1960s 0 35
1950s 0 6
1940s 0 38
1930s 0 33
1920s 35 25
1910s 27 6

What does Oakley mean?

A surname and place name from Old English 'ac' (oak) + 'leah' (woodland clearing or meadow), so literally 'the oak clearing'. It names numerous English villages (in Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Kent and elsewhere) and only became common as a given name recently.

What does Marlowe mean?

An English habitational surname from Marlow in Buckinghamshire, from Old English 'mere' (lake, pool) + 'laf' (remnants, leavings), i.e. marshy ground left after a lake was drained. Often loosely glossed 'driftwood'. It also recalls the Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe.

Frequently asked questions

Is Oakley or Marlowe more popular?

Oakley is more popular than Marlowe today: about 1,933 US babies were given the name Oakley in 2025, compared with 575 named Marlowe.

What is the difference between Oakley and Marlowe?

Oakley means oak clearing or meadow (english origin), while Marlowe means remnants of a drained lake (place name) (english origin).

Which name is older, Oakley or Marlowe?

In US records, Oakley first appears in 1913 and Marlowe in 1918, so Oakley has the longer recorded history.