Quigly as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Quigly

What is the meaning of the name Quigly ?

The baby name Quigly is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkwɪgli/ (KWIG-lee).

Quigly is Irish in Origin.

Quigly is a modern, streamlined spelling of Quigley, an Irish surname Anglicized from the Gaelic Ó Coigligh, “descendant of Coigleach.” The personal name Coigleach is typically read as a medieval byname; its precise sense is debated, but scholars often link it either to traits like “unruly/untidy” or to coigeal, “distaff,” suggesting an occupational nickname. As a given name, Quigly carries the brisk, lilted sound of Irish surnames and a lively, slightly roguish meaning.

As a surname, Quigley is well attested in Ulster (especially Donegal, Derry, and Tyrone) and spread widely through the Irish diaspora from the 17th century onward. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Quigly emerged as a rare unisex first name in English-speaking countries, fitting the surname-as-given-name trend. Close variants include Quigley (standard), Quiggly, Quiggley, and the less common O’Quigley; nicknames like Quig sometimes appear.

⚙ Quigly is absent from every birth registry and name dataset we follow. Such a name is generally either rare, regional or traditional, or a brand-new coinage. Either way, it's a name very few children share.