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Names that end in y

  1. Presley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "priest's meadow"
    • Description:

      More universal than Elvis...and more conventionally attractive, too. Cindy Crawford used it for her son, though it's on the rise mainly for girls. The last time Presley ranked in the Top 1000 for boys was 1903, 120 years ago. Today, it's used for girls 14 times as often as for boys, mainly because of the -ley ending.
  2. Mickey
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Michael
    • Description:

      Pugnacious and spunky like the young Mickey Rooney and the original Mickey Mouse, but virtually never given to babies today.
  3. Ramsay
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "low-lying land"
    • Description:

      A surname occasionally used as a first, as in former attorney general Ramsey Clark. This spelling is now closely associated with the psychopathic Game of Thrones villain Ramsay Snow (later Ramsay Bolton), and so is probably best avoided as long as the show and books are popular.
  4. Izzy
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Isabel and Isabella
    • Description:

      The longer Isabella stays in the Top 10—and it's been there for more than a decade—the more we hear the nickname Izzy (especially if we watch Grey's Anatomy). it's just a matter of time before it stands on its own, as it has as a first name for the daughter of Eddie Murphy and Paige Butcher.
  5. Joey
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Joanna or Josephine, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"
    • Description:

      Fun, friendly and fresher than Jo or Josie as a nickname for Joanna or Josephine. Joey can be thought of as one of the Stevie/Billie/Frankie boyish nicknames for girls so fashionable today.
  6. Freddy
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Frederick
    • Meaning:

      "peaceful ruler"
    • Description:

      Another old-school nickname getting new attention thanks to TV's Mad Men. Names like Fred, Pete, and George have been out so long it's time for them to come back in. It reentered the US Top 1000 in 2015 following a two-year absence from the list. It currently ranks Number 199 in England and Wales.
  7. Tully
    • Origin:

      Irish, Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "flood; quiet; hill"
    • Description:

      Tully is an Irish surname just waiting to be adapted as a first. Cute and lively, and reminiscent of Tilly or Tali, it's got a long history and a range of possible meanings, depending on which root you use.
  8. Letty
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Letitia or similar
    • Meaning:

      "joy, gladness"
    • Description:

      Letty is a sweet vintage gem, playful and cosy and more unexpected than Lottie, the popular pet form of popular Charlotte. Originally used as a nickname for Letitia or Lettice, it could also work for Scarlett, Juliet, Violet, Leighton, Arlette, Loretta, Colette, or Liberty.
  9. Renly
    • Origin:

      Modern invented name
    • Description:

      Renly Baratheon was a fairly minor character in A Song of Ice and Fire and HBO's Game of Thrones, mostly remembered as the one of the show's few prominent LGBT characters. He played a major part in season 2 of the show, when he challenged the Lannisters and his older brother Stannis for control of the Iron Throne.
  10. Chauncy
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "gamble, fortune"
    • Description:

      A popular American name in previous centuries in honor of famed Harvard President, Charles Chauncy. This name is burdened by an incredibly pompous sound and best left in the past.
  11. Perry
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "pear tree"
    • Description:

      Perry fits right in with rising boyish nicknames for girls and cool picks like Frankie and Scottie. This relaxed name sounds novel compared to such former favorites as Kerry and Sherry.
  12. Henley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "high meadow"
    • Description:

      The name of a British town on the Thames that hosts a famous regatta, so it could be an appropriate middle name for the son of boat-lovers.
  13. Whitley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "white meadow"
    • Description:

      Eighties spin on megapopular Whitney that currently ranks higher than the original. Whitley fell out of the Top 1000 for several decades but resurfaced in 2018.
  14. Charley
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Charlie, French
    • Meaning:

      "free man"
    • Description:

      Charlie and its many forms are on the rise -- including Charley, which relates more directly to the male formal name Charles. Surprisingly, though, while the number of girls and boys named Charlie are nearly even, there are six times as many girls named Charley than boys.
  15. Tony
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Anthony
    • Meaning:

      "priceless one"
    • Description:

      Tony, as in classy. Or To-nyyy, as yelled out a tenement window.
  16. Mckinley
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of the fair hero"
    • Description:

      Presidential name that makes a fresh substitute for MacKenzie or McKenna. Possible spelling variations include MacKinley, MacKinlee, Makinleigh ad almost infinitum. McKinley is one of the Scottish names for girls that can work equally well for boys.
  17. Landry
    • Origin:

      French and English
    • Meaning:

      "ruler"
    • Description:

      Landry is one rising surname name, often after legendary Dallas Cowboys football coach Tom Landry, that is given to boys and girls. But the y ending does give it a feminine sound (as opposed to the more boyish and more popular Landon). Land is a Landry nickname that might work for boys or girls.
  18. Brandy
    • Origin:

      Dutch
    • Meaning:

      "burnt wine"
    • Description:

      The alcohol-laced member of the Randy-Candy-Mandy sorority of 1970s to 80s nickname names; now pretty much on the wagon.
  19. Dusty
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Description:

      Dusty first became popular as a girl's name thanks to singer Dusty Springfield - born Mary. She used her childhood nickname professionally, and many parents embraced Dusty as a name for their daughters, especially in the 1970s.
  20. Dewey
    • Origin:

      Anglicized variation of Welsh Dewi, nickname of Dafydd
    • Meaning:

      "beloved"
    • Description:

      Not heard since the 1980s, Dewey shot into the Top 20 in 1898 thanks to the popularity of Spanish-American War naval hero Admiral George Dewey. Dewey has subtle links to his Welsh roots and relation to father name David . The name was borne by the fifth century St. Dewi, patron saint of Wales. Later references include the namesake of the library Dewey Decimal System, a Donald Duck nephew, the younger brother on Malcolm in the Middle and Lemony Snicket character Dewey Denouement. It has a strong but dewy feel and is appealing enough to be ripe for a modern revival.