Updated February 8, 2024

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Find Baby Names

Girl name origins & meanings

  • Irish : Rye
  • Gaelic : Valiant

What does Riley mean and stand for?

Riley, meaning "valiant", was first given its meaning when it first appeared as Raghallach, which was originated on a man who died in the Battle of Clontarf.

Syllables: 2

Girl name variations

Reilley

Reilley

0 % this year
Feminine
Rare
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Rielly

Rielly

0 % this year
Feminine
Rare
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Ryley

Ryley

- 1% this year
Neutral
Rare
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Reilly

Reilly

- 5% this year
Neutral
Rare
READ MORE DETAILS

Boy name origins & meanings

  • Gaelic : Valiant

What does Riley mean and stand for?

Riley, meaning "valiant", was first given its meaning when it first appeared as Raghallach, which was originated on a man who died in the Battle of Clontarf.

Syllables: 2

Boy name variations

Ryley

Ryley

- 1% this year
Neutral
Rare
READ MORE DETAILS
Reilly

Reilly

- 5% this year
Neutral
Rare
READ MORE DETAILS

How Popular Is The Name Riley

Family name origins & meanings

  • Irish : variant spelling of Reilly.
  • English : habitational name from Ryley in Lancashire, so named from Old English ryge ‘rye’ + lēah ‘wood’, ‘clearing’. There is a Riley with the same meaning in Devon, but it does not seem to have contributed to the surname, which is more common in northern England.

Famous people who gave their babies this name

Popularity

According to Social Security Administration data, as a girl's name, Riley has steadily increased in popularity since 2000 when it was at position 131. It quickly rose up to position 22 in 2016, when it was at its peak popularity on the charts. As a boys' name, Riley has steadily declined in popularity. It broke the top 100 in 2002, but has quickly lost popularity since, remaining in the top 300.

However, it is the 61st most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Isabella was at its peak popularity in March 2015.

Originally used as an English surname, Riley has been rising in popularity throughout the 90s and early 2000s. It first became popular as a boy's name, but today it is more often used for girls and is one of the more popular unisex or gender-neutral names. Its gender neutrality is one of the top reasons it has become so popular in recent years. It was also used in the popular Twilight series.

Where is it Popular?

Riley was searched for most often in the following states:

Nicknames for Riley

  • Lee
  • RiRi
  • Rye
  • Ryles

Pairs well with these middle names

 

Meaning and Origin of Riley