The baby name Curley is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KER-lee (IPA: /ˈkɜːrli/ or US /ˈkɝli/).
Curley is English in Origin.
The baby name Curley is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KER-lee (IPA: /ˈkɜːrli/ or US /ˈkɝli/).
Curley is English in Origin.
Curley is a transferred surname and nickname used as a given name in the English‑speaking world. As a surname, it arose in England and Scotland from a descriptive byname for someone with curly hair, giving the straightforward meaning “curly‑haired.” In Ireland, Curley can also be an anglicized form of various Gaelic patronymics (often cited as Ó Cuirr and related names), so not every family shares the hair‑based origin. Common variants include Curly (the more frequent nickname form) and Curlee.
As a given name, Curley appears from the late 19th century, typically bestowed as a warm nickname or adopted from the surname. Usage peaked in the early to mid‑20th century in North America and has since become rare, though the spelling remains familiar through cultural references such as Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JM | 0 | #93 | 1 | 3,714 | |
| PR | Boys | 0 | #178 | 1 | 2,508 |
| MO | Girls | 0 | #263 | 1 | 7,056 |
| JM | Boys | 0 | #293 | 1 | 6,876 |
| CM | Girls | 0 | #559 | 2 | 11,671 |
| KW | Girls | 0 | #561 | 1 | 19,177 |
| BH | 0 | #586 | 2 | 17,937 | |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #632 | 1 | 18,916 |
| HK | Girls | 0 | #650 | 1 | 16,104 |
| United States | Boys | 2003 | #809 | 5 | 7,064 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #1,014 | 1 | 25,931 |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #1,181 | 2 | 25,439 |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,236 | 1 | 25,928 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,272 | 1 | 25,619 |
Curley is popular in 12 countries — most recent births per country:
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