"barley grain, of the barley field"
Origin: Old English baerlic
Language: English
Barley
Pronunciation: [ b-AHRL-ee ]
Does Barley flow with your last name?
An ancient grain turned rare and charming nature name
English
American
Earthy
Unique
Whimsical
Playful
Modern
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Barley
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Barley
3 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"from the barley meadow (topographic)"
Origin: Old English
Language: English
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Barley
See all →What the Barley report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Barley the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Barley
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Barley head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Barley actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Barley
Barley comes from the Old English baerlic, itself from baere (barley grain) plus the suffix -lic (like, relating to). Barley is one of humanity's oldest cultivated grains, grown for at least 10,000 years. As a given name, Barley is part of the modern wave of grain and nature names entering baby naming, joining names like Rye, Oat, and Sage. It has a warm, rustic quality with a soft contemporary sound.
Barley is a very rare given name, representing the frontier edge of the nature-naming trend that has brought names like Hazel, Clover, Rowan, and Fern into popularity. Grain names like Rye have also entered the naming sphere. Barley appeals to parents drawn to earthy, unconventional names with agricultural or pastoral roots.
Barley has been central to human civilization for 10,000 years — it was used to make bread, beer, and porridge across ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Europe. In Norse mythology, barley was connected to the harvest goddess Sif. Its use as a name connects a child to the deep roots of agricultural humanity.
Historical Record
Barley first appeared in US Social Security records in 2020.
Over 19 babies have been named Barley in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Barley is a new entry on the US charts , currently ranked #24,885 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Barley is one of the oldest cultivated grains, with evidence of farming dating back 10,000 years in the Fertile Crescent
- About 70% of the world's barley crop is used to feed animals, with much of the rest going to beer and whisky production
- In Norse mythology, the grain harvest was associated with the goddess Sif, wife of Thor
Barley in Other Languages
Irish
Eorna
Norse
Bygg
French
Orge
German
Gerste
Spanish
Cebada
Popularity Over Time
#24,885
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
New Entry
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Barley
B
Barclay James Harvest
Musician
1968
British progressive rock band from Oldham whose name shares the Barley-Barclay connection
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Rejan
Boy
"king, ruler"
#25,038
Camir
Boy
"crooked nose (distinctive feature)"
#24,798
Abaddon
Boy
"destruction, ruin"
#24,879
Whiskey
Boy
"Water of life; the distilled spirit drink"
#24,971
Kismet
Boy
"fate, destiny, one's allotted share"
#24,714
Compare Barley with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #24,885
- Total SSA Count
- 6
- Cultural Origins
- English American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Common Nicknames
Bar
Bari
Lee
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Barley
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sounds Like Barley
Phonetic neighbors that share Barley's rhythm, vowel shape, or consonant cluster. Tap any name to see its full "names like" list.
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Barley fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Similar Names
See all names like Barley →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Barley with...
Same Origin Names (English)
See all English names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Barley
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Barley and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Barley sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Rejan
Boy
Sanskrit origin
"king, ruler"
#25,038 in US
Camir
Boy
Scottish Gaelic origin
"crooked nose (distinctive feature)"
#24,798 in US
Abaddon
Boy
Hebrew origin
"destruction, ruin"
#24,879 in US
Whiskey
Boy
Gaelic 'uisce beatha' origin
"Water of life; the distilled spirit d..."
#24,971 in US
Kismet
Boy
Arabic/Turkish origin
"fate, destiny, one's allotted share"
#24,714 in US
Lavion
Boy
American origin
"Possibly lion (from Levon/Leon) or a ..."
#24,763 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Barley's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Barley
What does the name Barley mean?
"barley grain, of the barley field" (from Old English baerlic). "from the barley meadow (topographic)" (from Old English). Barley comes from the Old English baerlic, itself from baere (barley grain) plus the suffix -lic (like, relating to). Barley is one of humanity's oldest cultivated grains, grown for at least 10,000 years. As a given name, Barley is part of the modern wave of grain and nature names entering baby naming, joining names like Rye, Oat, and Sage. It has a warm, rustic quality with a soft contemporary sound.
What is the origin of the name Barley?
Barley has Old English baerlic, Old English, English, and American origins. In Old English baerlic, it means "barley grain, of the barley field". In Old English, it means "from the barley meadow (topographic)".
Is Barley a boy or girl name?
Barley is primarily used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Barley?
Barley is pronounced b-AHRL-ee.
How popular is the name Barley?
Barley is currently ranked #24885 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Barley?
Common nicknames for Barley include Bar, Bari, and Lee.
What are good middle names for Barley?
Popular middle name pairings include Barley James, Barley Fox, Barley Reed, Barley Stone, Barley Finn, and Barley Cole.
What are good sibling names for Barley?
Names that pair well with Barley as siblings include Rye, Sage, Hazel, Oat, Clover, and Rowan.
How many syllables does Barley have?
Barley has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Barley a common or rare name?
Barley is an uncommon name, ranked #24885 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
About the Name Barley
Barley is a boy name with English and American origins . The name means "barley grain, of the barley field" in Old English baerlic .
Barley is currently ranked #24,885 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Barley has 2 syllables and is pronounced b-AHRL-ee, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Barley include Bar, Bari, and Lee. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Keep Exploring
Old English baerlic Names
Browse all names with this origin
B
Names Starting with B
More boy names like Barley
Rising Names
Names gaining popularity right now
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Boy Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis