# Stanley (name)

Stanley is a toponymic surname, a contraction of stan (a form of "stone") and leigh (meadow), later also being used as a masculine given name.

## People with the given name

* Ann Dunham, birth name Stanley Ann Dunham, mother of the 44th US president Barack Obama
* Stanley (Brazilian footballer) (Stanley Richieri Afonso, born 1985), Brazil
* Stanley Adams (actor) (1915–1977), American actor and screenwriter
* Stanley Adams (singer) (1907–1994), American singer and lyricist
* Stanley Adams (whistleblower) (1927–2016), Maltese whistleblower in the pharmaceutical industry
* Stanley T. Adams (1922–1999), American Army officer, recipient of the Medal of Honor during the Korean War
* Stanley Amis (1924–2021), British architect
* Stanley Andrisse, American endocrinologist
* Stan Arthur (born 1935), U.S. Navy officer; Vice Chief of Naval Operations 1992–95
* Stanley Baker (1928–1976), Welsh actor and producer
* Stanley Baldwin (1867–1947), three-time prime minister of the United Kingdom
* Stanley Baxter (born 1926), Scottish actor, comedian, impressionist, and author
* Stanley Berryhill (born 1998), American football player
* Stanley Bleifeld (1924–2011), American sculptor
* Stanley Booth-Clibborn (1924–1996), British Anglican bishop
* Stanley Branche (1933–1992), American civil rights leader
* Stanley Brundy (born 1967), American basketball player
* Stanley Burnside (born 1947), Bahamian cartoonist and painter
* Stanley Burrell, American rapper known as MC Hammer
* Stanley Cavell (1926–2018), American philosopher
* Stanley Chais (1926–2010), American investment advisor in the Madoff investment scandal
* Stanley Chera (1942–2020), American real estate developer
* Stanley R. Christianson (1925–1950), American Marine, awarded Medal of Honor
* Stanley Clarke (born 1951), American jazz and funk bassist
* Stanley Clements (1926–1981), American actor and comedian
* Stanley Cohen (biochemist) (1922–2020), American biochemist, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Laureate
* Stanley Cohen (physicist) (1927–2017), American physicist, founder and president of Speakeasy Computing Corporation
* Stan Cohen (politician) (1927–2004), British Labour politician
* Stanley Cohen (sociologist) (1942–2013), Martin White Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics
* Stanley G. Cohen, American music educator, president of Five Towns College
* Stanley Norman Cohen (born 1935), American geneticist
* Stanley Donen (1924–2019), American film director and choreographer
* Stan Drake (1921–1997), American cartoonist
* Stanley Ann Dunham (1942–1995), American anthropologist, mother of Barack Obama
* Stanley Ellis (cricketer) (1896–1987), English cricketer
* Stanley Ellis (linguist) (1926–2009), English linguistics scholar and broadcaster
* Stanley Fields (actor) (1883–1941), American actor
* Stanley Fields (biologist) (born 1955), American biologist
* Stanley Fischer (born 1943), Israeli American economist
* Stanley Fisher (1867–1949), 24th Chief Justice of Ceylon
* Stanley H. Ford (1877–1961), United States Army General
* Stanley Jerome Gaetz (1914–1964), member of the North Dakota Senate
* Stanley Goble (1891–1948), Royal Australian Air Force commander
* Stanley G. Grizzle (1918–2016), Canadian citizenship judge and labour union activist
* Stanley Heaps (1880–1962), English architect responsible for the design of a number of stations on the London Underground system
* Stanley Ho (1921–2020), Hong Kong-Macau businessman
* Stanley Holloway (1890–1982), English actor, comedian, singer and monologist
* Stanley Johnson (basketball) (born 1996), American basketball player
* Stanley Johnson (London politician) (1869–1937), English solicitor and Conservative Party politician, MP 1918–1924
* Stanley Johnson (writer) (born 1940), British author and politician, writer on environmental and population issues, MEP 1979–1984
* Stanley Jones (cyclist) (1888–1962), British Olympic cyclist
* Stanley Kalpage (died 2000), Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations from 1991 to 1994
* Stanley A. Klein, American neuroscientist
* Stanley H. Klein (1908–1992), American architect
* Stanley Kramer (1913–2001), American film director and producer
* Stanley Krippner (born 1932), American psychologist, parapsychologist, and Professor of Psychology at Saybrook University
* Stanley Kubrick (1928–1999), American film director, producer, and screenwriter
* Stanley Kurtz, American conservative commentator
* Stan Laurel (1890–1965), born Arthur Stanley Jefferson, English comic actor, writer and film director
* Stanley Lechtzin (born 1936), American artist, jeweler, metalsmith, and educator
* Stan Lee (1922–2018), American comic book writer, editor, and publisher
* Stanley Lewis (sculptor) (1930–2006), Canadian sculptor
* Stanley Cornwell Lewis (1905–2009), British portrait painter and illustrator
* Stan Love (basketball) (born 1949), American basketball player
* Stanley G. Love (born 1965), American scientist and astronaut
* Sir Stanley Matthews (1915–2000), British footballer
* Stanley Mazor (born 1941), American electrical engineer and inventor
* Stanley A. McChrystal (born 1954), former Commander, International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan
* Stanley Meltzoff (1917–2006), American illustrator
* Stanley Middleton (1919–2009), British novelist
* Stanley Morgan Jr. (born 1996), American football player
* Stanley Myers (1930–1993), English composer and conductor
* Stanley Nelson Jr. (born 1951), American documentary filmmaker
* Stanley Nibbs (1914–1985) British Virgin Islander teacher
* Stanley Ocitti (born 1980), Ugandan basketball player
* Stan Owen (1932–2019), Welsh rugby union and rugby league footballer
* Stanley G. Payne (born 1934), American historian and Hispanist
* Stanley Peiris (1941–2002), Sri Lankan Sinhala musician and composer
* Stanley Plotkin (born 1932), American physician, vaccinologist, and immunologist
* Stanley B. Prusiner (born 1942), American neurologist and biochemist
* Stanley Robinson (disambiguation), several people
* Stanley Rogers Resor (1917–2012), American lawyer and military officer; 9th United States Secretary of the Army
* Stanley Jedidiah Samartha (1920–2001), Indian theologian
* Stanley Savige (1890–1954), Australian soldier and businessman
* Stanley Schmidt (born 1944), American science fiction author and editor
* Stanley Schumacher (1933–2020), Canadian politician
* Stanley Senanayake (1918–1989) Sri Lankan law enforcement official
* Stanley Shakespeare (1963–2005), American football player
* Stanley Shanfield, American inventor
* Stanley Sheff, American film director and writer
* Stanley Gerald Umphrey Shier, 18th Canadian Surgeon General
* Stanley Tillekeratne, former Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka
* Stanley Tretick (1921–1999), American photojournalist
* Stanley Tucci, American actor, writer, producer and film director
* Stanley Turrentine (1934–2000), American jazz saxophonist
* Stanley Unwin (comedian) (1911–2002), South African-born comedic writer and performer
* Stanley Unwin (publisher) (1884–1968), British publisher, founder of George Allen and Unwin
* Stanley Wagner (disambiguation), several people
* Stanley J. Wawrzyniak (1927–1995), American Marine officer, recipient of two Navy Crosses during Korean War
* Stanley G. Weinbaum (1902–1935), American science fiction writer
* Stanley Whittaker (born 1994), American basketball player
* Stanley Wojcicki (1937–2023), Polish American emeritus professor and former chair of the physics department at Stanford University
* Stanley Wolpert (1927–2019), American historian and Indologist
* Stanley Woodward (attorney), American lawyer
* Stanley Yau (born 1990), Hong Kong singer, dancer and actor
* Stanley Zeigler, American politician
* Stanley de Zoysa, Sri Lankan businessman and politician

## People with the family name

* Aileen Stanley (1897–1982), American popular singer
* Allan Stanley (1926–2013), Canadian professional ice hockey player
* Alessandra Stanley, American journalist
* Antwaun Stanley, American singer, songwriter
* Arthur Penrhyn Stanley (1815–1881), English churchman, dean of Westminster
* Barney Stanley (1893–1971), Canadian professional ice hockey player
* Benson Stanley (born 1984), Australian-born, New Zealand Rugby Union player
* Bob Stanley (baseball) (born 1954), American baseball player
* Bob Stanley (musician) (born 1964), English musician
* Brian Stanley (disambiguation), multiple people
* Cassius Stanley (born 1999), American basketball player
* Chad Stanley (born 1976), American football player
* Charles Stanley (disambiguation), multiple people
* Chase Stanley (born 1989), Australian-New Zealand Rugby League player
* Christopher Stanley (born 1965), American actor
* Clinton Warrington Stanley (1830–1884), Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court
* David S. Stanley (1828–1902), Union general in the American Civil War and Medal of Honor recipient
* Dimitrious Stanley (1974–2023), American football player
* Dorothy Stanley (1924–1990), American educator
* Edward Stanley (disambiguation), multiple people
* Emily Stanley, American limnologist
* Fiona Stanley (born 1946), Australian epidemiologist
* Florence Stanley (1924–2003), American actress
* Francis Edgar Stanley (1849–1918), American businessman, co-inventor of the Stanley Steamer
* Frank C. Stanley, late 19th-early 20th-century American popular singer; stage name for William S. Grinsted
* Freelan O. Stanley (1849–1940), co-inventor of the Stanley Steamer and founder of the Stanley Hotel
* Frederick Trent Stanley (1802–1883), American industrialist, founder of Stanley Works
* George F. G. Stanley (1907–2002), Canadian historian and designer of the Canadian flag
* Ginger Stanley (1931–2023), American model, actress and stunt woman
* Helen Camille Stanley (born 1930), American composer and violist
* Henrietta Stanley, Baroness Stanley of Alderley (1807–1895), British campaigner for women's education
* Henrietta Stanley Dull (1863–1964), American food writer
* Henry Stanley, American businessman and founder of Stanley Rule and Level Company, cousin of Frederick Trent Stanley
* Henry Stanley (cricketer) (1873–1900), English cricketer
* Henry Bruce 'Harry' Stanley (1953–1999), Scottish painter and decorator mistakenly shot by police
* Henry Morton Stanley (1841–1904), Welsh-American journalist and explorer, searched for Dr. Livingstone
* Ian Stanley (born 1957), British musician
* James Stanley (disambiguation), several people
* Jayson Stanley (born 1997), American football player
* Joe Stanley (born 1957), New Zealand Rugby Union player
* John Stanley (disambiguation), several people
* Kim Stanley (1925–2001), American actress
* Leo Stanley (1886–1976), American surgeon
* Logan Stanley (born 1998), Canadian ice hockey player
* Matthew Stanley (born 1992), New Zealand Olympic swimmer
* Mervin C. Stanley (1857–1907), New York politician
* Michael Stanley (1948–2021), American rock singer
* Michael Stanley (rugby union) (born 1989), Samoan Rugby Union player
* Mickey Stanley (born 1942), American baseball player
* Mike Stanley (born 1963), American baseball player
* Mike Stanley (rower) (born 1957), New Zealand Olympic rower and sports administrator
* Millicent Preston-Stanley (1883–1955), Australian feminist and politician
* Muriel Stanley (1918–1979), Indigenous Australian Anglican missionary, nurse and social worker
* Nate Stanley (born 1997), American football player
* Oliver Stanley (1896–1950), British politician
* Owen Stanley (1811–1850), British naval captain
* Owsley Stanley (1935–2011), American "underground" chemist, mass-produced LSD
* Paco Stanley (1942–1999), Mexican television entertainer, assassinated
* Paul Stanley (born 1952), American rock guitarist and vocalist
* Ralph Stanley (1927–2016), American bluegrass musician, one of the Stanley Brothers
* Richard Stanley (director) (born 1966), South African-born film director
* Richard Stanley (politician) (1920–1983), British Conservative Party Member of Parliament 1950–1966
* Richard P. Stanley (born 1944), American mathematician at MIT
* Robbie Stanley (born 1967), American auto racing driver
* Ronja Stanley (born 1991), Finnish singer, known as Ronya
* Ronnie Stanley (born 1994), American football player
* Sachini Ayendra Stanley, Sri Lankan Burgher cinema actress and model
* Sam Stanley (rugby union) (born 1991) English Rugby Union player
* Sara Griffith Stanley Woodward (1837–1918; born: Stanley), U.S. abolitionist, author, educator
* Sidney Stanley (died 1969), Polish-British businessman
* Sidney Stanley (cricketer) (born 1933), South African cricketer
* Steven J. C. Stanley (born 1958), Jamaican audio engineer and producer
* Steven M. Stanley (born 1941), American palaeontologist
* The Stanley Brothers, Carter and Ralph, American bluegrass musicians
* Thomas Stanley (author) (1625–1678), English author and translator
* Thomas Bahnson Stanley (1890–1970), American politician, governor of Virginia 1954–1958
* Venetia Stanley (1600–1633), English noblewoman
* Venetia Stanley (1887–1948), English socialite, intimate friend of H. H. Asquith
* Wendell Meredith Stanley (1904–1971), American biochemist, virologist, and Nobel prize laureate
* William Stanley (died 1495) (c. 1435–1495), English soldier, fought at the Battle of Bosworth Field
* William Stanley (born 1548) (1548–1630), English military commander, under Queen Elizabeth I
* William Stanley (inventor), British inventor and businessman
* William Stanley Jr. (1858–1916), American physicist
* Winifred C. Stanley (1909–1996), U.S. Representative from New York
* Woodrow Stanley (1950–2022), American politician

### English nobility and gentry

* any of the Stanley baronets
* any who held the title Baron Stanley
* any who held the title Baron Stanley of Alderley
* Albert Stanley, 1st Baron Ashfield (1874–1948), president of the Board of Trade, chairman of London Passenger Transport Board
* Anne Stanley, Countess of Ancram (1600–1656/7), wife of the 1st Earl of Ancram
* Edward Stanley, Lord Stanley, name used for several men: see Edward Stanley (disambiguation)
* Edward John Stanley, 6th Baron Sheffield and Stanley of Alderley (1907–1971)
* Henrietta Stanley, 4th Baroness Strange (1687–1718), English peeress
* Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby (1531–1593)
* James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby (1607–1651)
* Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby (1435–1504)
* William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby (1584–1642)

## Fictional characters

* Stanley (Cars), the deceased founder of the town Radiator Springs in the Cars franchise
* Stanley, an anthropomorphic white tank engine on TV series Thomas and Friends
* Stanley, in the film A Troll in Central Park (1994)
* Sappy Stanley, a character in the TV series Tiny Toon Adventures
* a title character in Stanley and His Monster, from DC Comics
* Stanley the Tool, in the webcomic Erfworld
* Stanley Bernstein, in the 1983 American miniseries V)
* Stanley Griff, the main character of the Playhouse Disney animated series Stanley
* Stanley Hudson, a character on the TV show The Office
* Stanley Ipkiss, the main character in the comic and the film The Mask
* Stanley "Grandpa" Kanisky, on the American television sitcom Gimme a Break
* Stanley Kowalski, in A Streetcar Named Desire
* Stanley Lambchop, a main character in Jeff Brown's Flat Stanley book series
* Stan Marsh, on the TV show South Park
* Stanley Pines, on the animated TV series Gravity Falls
* Stanley Roper, on the American sitcom Three's Company
* Stan Smith (American Dad!), the lead character from the American Dad! animated sitcom
* Stanley Snyder, a character from the manga series Dr. Stone
* Stanley Sorenson, a main character in Brandon Mull's Fablehaven book series
* Stanley S. SquarePants, a minor character in the Nickelodeon animated TV series SpongeBob SquarePants
* Stanley Tweedle, a main character on the science fiction TV series Lexx
* Stanley Yelnats IV, from the novel and film Holes
* Stanley Zbornak, a recurring character in the American TV series The Golden Girls
* Stanley, the protagonist in the 2011 video game The Stanley Parable, its 2013 remake, and its 2022 Ultra Deluxe release
* Stanley the Bugman, the protagonist in the 1983 Nintendo video game Donkey Kong 3 and the 1999 game Super Smash Bros
* Beth Stanley, in the 1998 American science-fiction disaster movie Deep Impact