Hartley

Hartley is an English surname derived from a place name meaning 'hart's (deer's) meadow' or 'hart's wood'. It originated as a locational name for someone who lived near a deer park or forest.

As a given name, Hartley is more commonly used for girls than boys. It has a pleasant, nature-inspired sound and a slightly quirky, vintage feel.

The name Hartley was brought into wider use as a given name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, possibly influenced by the popularity of the British writer and philosopher Hartley Coleridge, the son of the famous poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

While the meaning of Hartley as a surname refers to deer, the name itself does not have a specific defined meaning beyond its English place name origins.