Langley is a unique and distinctive given name of English origin. It is derived from an Old English word "lang" which means "long," combined with the suffix "-ley" that indicates a meadow or field. Therefore, Langley can be interpreted as meaning "long meadow" or "long field."
The name Langley has a rich history, particularly in England where it has been associated with several notable locations and figures. One of the most famous is Langley Castle, a 14th-century fortified manor house located in Northumberland, England. The castle was once home to powerful families such as the Clavering family and later the Radclyffe family.
Another significant association of the name Langley is with the American space agency NASA's Langley Research Center, named after the nearby Langley Field which was established during World War I as a military aviation training ground. The center has been instrumental in numerous aeronautics research projects and spacecraft developments throughout history.
Despite its historical ties, Langley remains relatively uncommon as a given name. It is not ranked among the top 1000 names for boys or girls in the United States, making it a unique choice for parents seeking an unusual yet meaningful name for their child. Overall, Langley offers an interesting blend of history and uniqueness, providing a compelling option for those looking to select a distinctive name with a rich heritage behind it.
The name Langley has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States, with a total of 638 babies given this unique name between 1990 and 2023.
The year 2012 was a peak for the name Langley, with 36 births recorded. This figure was surpassed again in 2014 with another 36 births, indicating that these years were particularly popular for the name.
Interestingly, there have been two periods where the number of births with the name Langley significantly increased: firstly between 2008 and 2012, during which time the number of births more than doubled from 25 to 36; and secondly between 2014 and 2015, when there was another significant increase from 36 to 38.
However, since 2015, the popularity of the name Langley has been steadily declining. In fact, in 2022, there were only 17 births recorded with this name, which is a significant decrease from the peak years.
Despite this recent decline, it's clear that Langley remains a distinctive and memorable name choice for parents in the United States.