Radley

Radley is an English place and surname name usually interpreted as red clearing or red meadow. Its ending belongs to the old landscape vocabulary found in many English surnames. Used as a first name, it brings that geographical background into a compact form that has been given to both boys and girls.

The strongest literary association is Arthur “Boo” Radley in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. His role in protecting the Finch children gives the surname an important place in the novel. For a family drawn to the book, Radley can be a quiet literary reference; for others, the place-name history and clear two-syllable shape may be the main appeal.