Talley Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TAL-ee //ˈtæli//
Origin: English; Irish
Meaning: English: from the meadow; Irish: bright, shining
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Talley has its roots in the Old French word "tale" or "tallier," which means to cut or to tally, and it is derived from the Latin "taliare," meaning to cut or to divide. This etymological path reflects a connection to measurement and accounting, as the term evolved to signify the act of counting or recording.
The name entered the English language during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Old French terms were adopted into English, particularly in the context of administration and record-keeping. Historically, the name Talley may have been used as a surname before becoming a given name.
It is associated with various notable figures throughout history, including individuals in the realms of literature and politics. For instance, the surname Talley appears in records from the medieval period, and its variants can be traced in various regions of England.
The name has also been linked to the Talley family in Wales, which has historical significance in local governance and land ownership during the Middle Ages. Culturally, names like Talley often carry connotations of diligence and precision, reflecting the qualities associated with the act of tallying or counting.
This connection to measurement and accountability may have contributed to its endurance as a name. Additionally, diminutive forms such as Tally have emerged, providing a more informal or affectionate version of the name.
Overall, Talley encapsulates a blend of linguistic heritage and historical significance, illustrating the evolution of names through language and culture.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Talley, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Talley. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Talley was first seen in the United States in 1914.
Talley has ranked as high as #10192 nationally, which occurred in 2000, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Talley has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Talley is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Talley was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Talley.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2024 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2022 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2020 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2019 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2017 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2015 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2014 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2012 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2010 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2009 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2008 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 2007 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 2006 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 2005 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2004 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2003 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2002 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2001 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 2000 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1999 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1998 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1997 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1996 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1995 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1994 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1993 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1992 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1991 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1988 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1987 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1985 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1984 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1979 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1976 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1975 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1974 | 16 | 6 | 10 |
| 1973 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1972 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1969 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1964 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1963 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1958 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1956 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1932 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1926 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1922 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1919 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1918 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1917 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1915 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1914 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Talley
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
No state data available for this year.