Brantley is an English surname of uncertain origin, usually explained through the Germanic word brand, "sword" or "fire", with the place-name ending -ley, clearing. In America it has a strong country feel, boosted by the singer Brantley Gilbert, whose rise coincided with the name's best years. Brantley entered the US top 1000 in 2010, peaked at number 119 in 2013 and has fallen fast since, from number 122 in 2015 to number 499 in 2025.