Linley as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Linley

What is the meaning of the name Linley ?

The baby name Linley is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈlɪnli/ — LIN-lee.

Linley is English in Origin.

Linley is an English surname turned given name, pronounced LIN-lee. It stems from Old English elements lind “linden, lime tree” + lēah “wood, clearing, meadow,” giving “linden clearing.” Some sources also link it to līn “flax,” yielding the alternative sense “flax meadow,” though this is less widely accepted. Place‑names called Lindley/Linley in Yorkshire, Shropshire, and elsewhere underpin the surname.

As a given name, Linley is modern and unisex, used in Britain, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, with increased popularity since the late 20th century alongside other -ley names. The surname is well attested earlier, notably borne by the 18th‑century English musical Linley family connected to playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan, which helps anchor the name historically. Common variants and spellings include Lindley, Lynley, Linlee, Lynlee, and Linleigh; short forms Lin, Lina, and Lee occur. Meaning: “linden-tree meadow/clearing.”