# Marley

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /ˈmɑ(ɹ)li/ · frequency rank #15,861

## Definitions
1. A hamlet in Kingston parish, Canterbury district, Kent, England (OS grid ref TR1850).
2. A hamlet in Deal, Kent, England.
3. A hamlet in Maidstone, Kent, England.
4. A census-designated place in Will County, Illinois, United States.
5. An English habitational surname from Old English.
6. A surname from Irish, an alternate anglicization of Ó Murghaile (Morley).
7. A male given name transferred from the surname.
8. A female given name transferred from the surname.

## Etymology
From several different places in England, from Old English mære (“boundary”) or myrig (“pleasant”) or mearþ (“marten”) + lēah (“woodland clearing”). In the first case, equivalent to mere (“boundary”) + -ley (“lea”).

## Easily confused with
- **Mary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-mary)
- **marry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-marry)
- **Marty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-marty)
- **Miley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-miley)
- **merle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-merle)
- **Marne** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-marne)
- **marvel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-marvel)
- **medley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-medley)
- **Massey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-massey)
- **Morley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-morley)
- **marred** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-marred)
- **motley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-motley)
- **marlin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-marlin)
- **Mosley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-mosley)
- **Marlow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-marlow)
- **marten** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-marten)
- **marshy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-marshy)
- **Mersey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-mersey)
- **martel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-martel)
- **Marple** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/marley-vs-marple)

## Common misspellings (9)
`amrley`, `malrey`, `marely`, `marleyy`, `marlley`, `marlye`, `marrley`, `mmarley`, `mraley`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/marley