Barkley

English and Scottish

"where birches grow"

Barkley Origin and Meaning

The name Barkley is a boy's name.

Barkley is a masculine name of English origin, originally a surname derived from the Old English 'beorc' meaning 'birch tree' and 'leah' meaning 'woodland clearing' or 'meadow.' As a first name, Barkley has maintained modest usage, experiencing small peaks of popularity in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s, possibly influenced by basketball star Charles Barkley. The name carries strong nature associations and a certain preppy, distinguished quality. It balances being recognizable without being common, appealing to parents looking for names with English heritage and woodland connections. Barkley also carries a friendly, approachable sound while maintaining a traditional surname-as-first-name style.

Famous People Named Barkley

• Barkley L. Hendricks American painter
• Barkley Stuart Thompson American Episcopal church dean
• Charles Barkley American basketball player
• Alben W. Barkley 35th Vice President of the United States
• Ross Barkley English professional footballer

The name Barkley in Pop Culture

• Barkley character on TV's "Sex and the City"
• Barkley Muppet dog on TV's "Sesame Street"
• Barkley a mini Skylander from the video game "Skylanders Trap Team"
• Barkley character in Caroline Bock's "Before my Eyes"
• Catherine Barkley character in Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms"