Oakley
Meaning of Oakley
Oakley began as an English surname, taken from any of several places in England with that name. The place name combines Old English āc 'oak' and lēah 'wood, clearing', so it means 'oak wood or clearing'. It is pronounced OHK-lee and is used for both boys and girls.
As a surname it is best known through Annie Oakley, the American sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Bearers of the first name include the American writer Oakley Hall, author of the Western novel Warlock. Oakley is also the name of a well-known sunglasses brand.
In the U.S., Oakley was rare throughout the 20th century. It climbed from 1,751st place in 2010 to a peak of 153rd in 2023. In 2025 it ranked 156th with 1,933 babies, the most in any year.
Pronunciation
British English
- Pronunced as OHK-lee (/ˈəʊkli/)
American English
- Pronunced as OHK-lee (/ˈoʊkli/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Oakley
| Oakley Hall III - Oakley Tad Hall III was an American playwright, director, and author who cofounded Lexington Conservatory Theatre, survived a traumatic brain injury in 1978, and was later the subject of the 2004 documentary The Loss of Nameless Things. |
| Oakley William Cannonier is an English professional footballer for Premier League club Liverpool. |
| American novelist Oakley Maxwell Hall, a San Diego native and World War II Marine, graduated from UC Berkeley, earned an MFA from the Iowa Writers Workshop, and published mysteries as OM Hall and Jason Manor. |
