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Amberley

Girl name · 6 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Amberley: 6 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 1991.

Amberley is an English habitational surname turned first name, drawn from a place in Gloucestershire meaning "clearing by the amber river," rooted in Old English *æmbre* (a type of river insect) and *lēah* (woodland clearing). The name rose gently in Scotland from the 1970s, likely influenced by the softer, gemstone-like sound of the more common Amber. There is no widely celebrated historical figure bearing Amberley, though the British aristocrat and early feminist Katharine Russell, Viscountess Amberley—grandmother of philosopher Bertrand Russell—lived at Amberley Castle. The name also echoes the Sussex village of Amberley, known for its chalk pits and medieval castle ruin. Its Scottish usage remains rare but carries a gentle, pastoral charm.