Stanley - Names
Meaning of the name Stanley
Gender:
Male
Meaning:
stone clearing
History & etymology:
Stanley was originally an Old English surname composed of the words: stan 'stone' and leigh 'meadow, clearing'. Later it started to be used as a masculine given name, too.
Stanley is sometimes regarded an English equivalent of Slavic Stanislav (stan: 'stand, become' and slav 'glory'). Although these names are unlikely to be actual cognates, they look as if they had a common origin.
No saint bore the name Stalney but there is St. Stanisław Szczepanowski, also known as Stanislaus of Szczepanów. He was an 11th century Polish bishop known for his wisdom and for being a great preacher. St. Stanisław was brave enough to denounce the crimes and immorality of King Boleslaus the Bold and subsequently to excommunicate him. Having heard about the treason, the king killed St. Stanislaus himself during a Mass.
St. Stanisław’s feast day is celebrated on 11th April.
Alternative spellings & nicknames:
Stanleigh, Stanlee, Stanly
Short form: Stan
Similar names in other languages & name day:
USA
13th November: Stanley, Stan
Similar names:
Austria
11th April: Stanislaus
France
11th April: Stanislas
Germany
11th April: Stanislaus
Hungary
11th April: Szaniszló
Italy
7th May: Stanislao
Poland
8th May, 13th November: Stanisław
Famous people named Stanley:
Stanley Baker (1928 - 1976) - Welsh actor
Stanley Donen (1924-) - American director
Stanley D. Griggs (1939 - 1989) - American astronaut
Stanley Hathaway (1924 - 2005) - American politician
Stanley Johnson (1996-) - American basketball player
Stanley Kamel (1943 - 2008) - American actor
Stanley Kramer (1913 - 2001) - American director
Stanley Kubrick (1928-) - American director
Stanley Kunitz (1905 - 2006) - American poet
Stanley Livingston (1950-) - American actor
Stanley Matthews (1915 - 2000) - English soccer player
Stanley McChrystal (1954-) - American war hero, top commander in Afghanistan
Stanley Spencer (1891 - 1959) - English painter
Stanley Tucci (1960-) - American actor
Fun facts:
Popularity (2015)
USA: 687th
England and Wales: 59th
Lucky colors: gray, black
Lucky stone: Tanzanite
Ruling planet: the Moon
Characteristics: adaptable, rational, modest, calm, reserved