Riley
Riley: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɹaɪ.li/
Meaning and origin of Riley
Root meaning: “rye”
- A unisex given name.
- A male given name transferred from the surname, of 19th century and later usage.
- A female given name from surname, of 1990s and later usage.
Etymology
From Ryley in Lancashire, from Old English ryge (“rye”) + leah (“clearing, meadow”). Equivalent to rye + -ley (“lea”). * A variant of Reilly, from Irish Ó Raghallaigh (see O'Reilly).
How popular is Riley?
Since 1880, 141,960 girls and 105,025 boys in the U.S. have been named Riley (57% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #22 in 2016. Its highest rank for boys was #99 in 2002. In 2025 it ranked #48 for girls, with 6,107 babies given the name.
Names similar to Riley
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname unisex names
Sibling name ideas for Riley
Sister and brother names that share Riley's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Riley FAQ
What does the name Riley mean?
Riley traces back to a root meaning "rye". A unisex given name. A male given name transferred from the surname, of 19th century and later usage. A female given name from surname, of 1990s and later usage. From Ryley in Lancashire, from Old English ryge (“rye”) + leah (“clearing, meadow”). Equivalent to rye + -ley (“lea”). * A variant of Reilly, from Irish Ó Raghallaigh (see O'Reilly).
What is the origin of the name Riley?
Riley is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Riley?
Since 1880, 141,960 girls and 105,025 boys in the U.S. have been named Riley (57% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #22 in 2016. Its highest rank for boys was #99 in 2002. In 2025 it ranked #48 for girls, with 6,107 babies given the name.
Is Riley a boy or girl name?
Riley is used for both boys and girls in the U.S. (141,960 girls and 105,025 boys since 1880).
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.