The nameRiley

Riley is an Irish and English surname used for both boys and girls. In the United States it is now mostly a girl's name, while in Britain it is given mainly to boys.

Unisex name
Irish and English

Meaning

Riley comes either from the Irish surname Ó Raghallaigh, "descendant of Raghallach", or from an English place name meaning "rye clearing".

Origin

Irish and English, from a surname.

History

The phrase "the life of Riley", meaning an easy, carefree life, made the name familiar. In England and Wales Riley was eighth among boys in 2012. In the United States it reached 22nd place for girls in 2016.

Famous people named Riley

Riley Keough, actress
Riley Green, singer

Popularity of the name Riley

Riley in the United States

42ndmost popular girls' name in the United States in 2024

2008peak year (9,904 births)

240,821babies named Riley in the United States since 1880

Births per year in the United States. Source: Social Security Administration, names given at least 5 times a year.

Riley was most popular in the United States in the 2000s, with 85,152 births over the decade, 35% of all recorded babies named Riley. Its rise began around 1990, and it peaked in 2008. Half of all babies named Riley in the United States were born before 2009, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 6,471 births a year on average, against 7,823 in the five years before.

Riley in the United Kingdom

82ndmost popular boys' name in the United Kingdom in 2025

2012peak year (5,476 births)

46,045babies named Riley in the United Kingdom since 1997

Births per year in the United Kingdom. Source: ONS, NRS and NISRA (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland), names given at least 3 times a year.

Riley was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 28,049 births over the decade, 61% of all recorded babies named Riley. Its rise began around 2004, and it peaked in 2012. Half of all babies named Riley in the United Kingdom were born before 2012, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,078 births a year on average, against 1,586 in the five years before.

Riley in Ireland

191stmost popular boys' name in Ireland in 2025

2015peak year (83 births)

1,181babies named Riley in Ireland since 1964

Births per year in Ireland. Source: Central Statistics Office, names given at least 3 times a year.

Riley in France

719thmost popular boys' name in France, latest official figures

2022peak year (120 births)

1,485babies named Riley in France since 1900

Births per year in France. Source: Insee, French national statistics office, latest official figures. Rounded numbers.

Variants and related names

Rylee

Sibling names for Riley

Names from the same generation as Riley, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.

For a sister

For a brother

How many people are named Riley? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz

Riley in our baby name lists

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Riley mean?

Riley comes either from the Irish surname Ó Raghallaigh, "descendant of Raghallach", or from an English place name meaning "rye clearing".

What is the origin of the name Riley?

Irish and English, from a surname.

Is Riley a girl's or a boy's name?

Riley is a unisex name, given to both girls and boys. In the United States, 57% of the babies named Riley are girls.

How popular is the name Riley?

In 2024, Riley was the 42nd most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 4,644 births.

What are the variants of the name Riley?

Variants and related names of Riley include Rylee.

What are good sibling names for Riley?

Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Chloe, Kennedy, Maya and Zoe for a sister, Isaac, Adrian, Luke and Charles for a brother.

Who are famous people named Riley?

Riley Keough, actress; Riley Green, singer.