Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Stanley

Stanley is actually the transferred use of an Olde English surname originating as a place name, most notably Stanley in the counties of Derbyshire, Durham and Gloucester. Such villages took their names from the Olde English elements “stān” (meaning “stone”) and “lēah” (meaning “clearing”) to signify a “stone clearing” where such towns were established. Stanley is one of the oldest surnames in England and one of nobility having been borne by the Earls of Derby starting in the 15th century (thanks to Thomas Stanley, King Henry the VII’s stepfather). Prior to the earldom, Stanley’s father, grandfather, and great-father were barons and Kings of Mann (i.e., the Isle of Man). In other words, the Stanley’s knew how to kiss some English monarch ass and enjoy the spoils of high society. However, the man most responsible for turning the surname Stanley into a forename was Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904), a Welsh-American citizen who was hired to find Dr. David Livingstone, a Scottish explorer and English national hero believed to be lost on the continent of Africa. News of Livingstone’s feared disappearance reached America and Henry Stanley was hired by the New York Herald to go and find him. After an eight month search into the interior of the little known continent, with a battery of men participating in this expedition, Stanley finally found his man in 1871 which was, of course, confirmed by this now famous question: “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” The popularity of Stanley as a forename was largely influenced by Henry Morton Stanley in the 19th century. Not surprisingly Stanley is still a Top 100 boy’s name in England/Wales. In the United States, however, Stanley has become less fashionable today.

All About the Baby Name – Stanley

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME STANLEY

Romance is the hallmark of the Six personality. They exude nurturing, loving, and caring energy. Sixes are in love with the idea of love in its idealized form - and with their magnetic personalities, they easily draw people toward them. Like the number Two personality, they seek balance and harmony in their life and the world at large. They are conscientious and service-oriented, and a champion for the underdog. These personalities naturally attract money and are usually surrounded by lovely material objects - but their human relationships are always primary. They thrive in giving back to others rather than being motivated by their own desires. This is when they achieve great things. Sixes are natural teachers, ministers and counselors.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME STANLEY

The name Stanley goes back to 1880 on our list (which is as far back as we have available data). In the late 19th century, Stanley was already a solid choice in a name for baby boys. By the turn of the 20th century Stanley was already a Top 100 favorite coming in 77th place in 1900. In fact, Stanley maintained Top 100 status for 70 consecutive years (1890-1959). Pretty impressive!! After the name fell off the Top 100 list, Stanley’s decline from popular usage would be slow and quiet rather than sharp and sudden. The name continues to retreat toward the shadows but he’s been holding on for a remarkable ride so far. Stanley is a name that has already demonstrated some serious staying power and, although no longer stylish today, he’s still a solid choice in a name. We see Stanley as the old guy at the community center Bingo games with Shirley, but old-fashioned names are being revived in some circles – perhaps Stanley hasn’t gotten his number called yet. Not to mention, tough guy Stanley Kowalski from Tennessee William’s play “A Street Car Named Desire” forever leaves us with a lasting impression of the brooding, animalistic Marlon Brando.

Quick Facts

ON STANLEY

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

English

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

679

PRONUNCIATION:

STAN-lee

SIMPLE MEANING:

Stone clearing

Characteristics

OF STANLEY

Humanitarian

Community-minded

Family-oriented

Loving

Affectionate

Compassionate

Sensitive

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Stanley

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME STANLEY

Mabel is the lovely lady lead in The Pirates of Penzance, the comic opera by Arthur Sullivan and W. S. Gilbert that premiered in 1879 (played on latter day Broadway and film by a delightful Linda Ronstadt). She is the beloved of Frederic, who has just left his enforced apprenticeship as a pirate, having lately turned twenty-one years of age. The first woman he meets upon embarking is Mabel – lucky for him, she is a beauty and loves him on first sight right back. All should be well, but for the fact that it turns out Frederic was a Leap Year baby, therefore, his apprenticeship won’t be up until 1940 (which didn’t look too good from the 19th century). Well, Mabel is as good (or dopey) as she is beautiful, and she agrees to wait for him. Of course, this dilemma is solved amidst much singing, and the happy couple is able to unite and tra-la-la their way off to the horizon.

Stanley Kowalski is the memorable brute of Tennessee William’s famous 1947 play, A Streetcar Named Desire, and he is inextricably bound up in the persona of Marlon Brando, who played the role both on Broadway and in the 1951 film adaptation. Stanley is a working class Polish-American World War II Army vet with very simple tastes and expectations – he provides a paycheck and his wife sees to his every comfort, starting with sex. He likes to bowl and play poker with the boys. All this is well and good, until his wife’s sister, the fading Southern belle, Blanche Dubois, turns up. Her disdain for his “ape-like” demeanor and manners, and her appeals to her sister to leave him, enrage Stanley. All of his self-protective armor is polished up for battle against a dainty, alcoholic woman who is fast losing her grip on reality. It is not enough that he ferrets out and broadcasts her shameful secrets, not enough that he sabotages her blossoming relationship with one of his friends, not enough that he attacks and rapes her. Ultimately, Stanley is responsible for Blanche’s descent into madness and for her sister’s decision to have her institutionalized. And for his troubles, Stanley keeps his loyal wife, and adds a son to the family unit.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME STANLEY

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Stanley


Popular Songs

ON STANLEY

Stanley Here I Am
a song by Airheadz

Wake Up Stanley
a song by Slapstick

Stanley Road
a song by Paul Weller

Stanley Kubrick
a song by Mogwai

Mr. Stanley
a song by John Hiatt

Famous People

NAMED STANLEY

Stanley Kubrick (film director)
Stanley Kirk Burrell (aka MC Hammer, musician)
Stanley Tucci (actor)
Stanley Matthews (English footballer)
Stanley Baldwin (British politician)
Stanley Clarke (jazz musician)

Children of Famous People

NAMED STANLEY

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Stanley

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME STANLEY

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Stanley