Meaning and background
The story behind Henley
Henley is an English habitational surname derived from several different places with that name. Many come from Old English elements meaning a high woodland clearing, but other examples have a first element referring to a hen or wild bird. The surname can also have a separate Irish origin. This is precisely why 'hen meadow' should not be presented as its universal definition. The spelling also recalls Henley-on-Thames.
Try Henley out loud
Everyday moments“Henley, come here!”
Say it as you would on a walk or at home. Does it feel natural alongside your usual commands and other pets’ names?
About Henley
Recorded as a dog’s name
Henley appears in 6 dog licence records in the 2024 New York City dataset.
How to read this count
These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.
Pronunciation and rhythm
/hɛnli/
US English sound sequence, converted from the CMU dictionary. Stress marks are shown separately.
Stress on the first syllable in the recorded US readings.
View dictionary notation
/hɛnli/ · primary stress on syllable 1HH EH1 N L IY0
These are US dictionary readings. Personal, regional and other language pronunciations may differ.
Compare your favourites
Put Henley beside another name before you decide.
Explore names like Henley
Narrow the finder by the features you want to keep.
Sources and research notes (3)
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene NYC Dog Licensing Dataset — all seven available extract years, retrieved 24 October 2026 — Recorded name spellings in NYC licence-period rows, extract years 2016–2018, 2022–2024 and 2026. Evidence selects one stated year per name. Annual snapshots overlap; never sum them as unique dogs. No national popularity, etymology or owner naming-intent claim.
- Carnegie Mellon University / CMU Sphinx maintainers CMU US English Pronouncing Dictionary — US English dictionary readings; not owner-specific or exhaustive multilingual pronunciation
- City of Seattle Seattle Pet Licenses — DOG-only name aggregate, current source dated 6 October 2026 — Secondary spelling corroboration from dog-only licence rows. No cats, owner fields, national ranking or unique-dog claim.
References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.