Riley name meaning

By Nishant Saini

Updated: May 30th, 2024

Gender: Unisex, both Boy and Girl

Origin: Old English

Usage: English, English and Irish

Pronunciation: ry-lee

Meaning: Brave, Courageous, Valiant, Dweller by the Rye Field, Rye Meadow, Rye Clearing, Descendant of Roghallach, Warlike and Ryge Which Means Rye

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On This Page

What does Riley mean?
Variations of Riley
Nicknames for Riley
Middle Names for Riley
How popular is Riley?
Popularity Chart
Similar Names to Riley
Famous People Named Riley
Lists having Riley

What does Riley mean?

Riley is a unisex name derived from the Old English word ryge, meaning "rye field" or "clearing." It can also be spelled Rilley, Rylee, or Ryley. It is originally a Scottish and Irish surname but has been common in the United States since the 1970s.

Some notable people with the name Riley include:
-Riley Keough, American actress and model
-Riley Cooper, American football player
-Riley Nash, Canadian ice hockey player
-Riley Baxendale Victorian England cricketer

There are many famous people with the name Riley, including:
-Riley Keough, American actress and model
-Riley Cooper, former American football wide receiver
-Riley Nash, Canadian professional ice hockey player
-Riley Smith, American actor

If you're looking for a strong, classic name for your baby, Riley is definitely a great choice.

It's got a lot of history behind it and is associated with some really positive qualities, like strength and intelligence. Plus, it's just a really nice sounding name. If you're on the fence about what to name your little one, give Riley some serious consideration - you won't be disappointed.

ALSO READ : 150+ Baby Names Inspired by Animals

How do I pronounce Riley?

The most common pronunciation of two syllabled Riley is ry-lee.

Variants of Riley

Reileigh, Ryley

Nicknames for Riley

Possible nicknames for the name Riley include:

Names that rhyme with Riley

How popular is the name Riley?

Riley is a very popular in United States where over 201037 new-borns have been given the name since 1880. At the peak of its usage in 2016, the moniker grabbed the 22nd spot and 7110 baby girls were given the name.

Moreover, the first name has been to the top 50 baby names 11 times Also, Riley was a popular name in England and Wales. Over 34498 babies have been given the first name in 46 years.

When at its peak in 2012, the moniker grabbed the 8th spot and 4825 baby boys were given the name. However after 46 years, the name is on free fall on the charts but still dominating the charts.

Additionally, the name has been in the top 10 baby names 1 times Also, Riley was a popular name in New South Wales. Over 7098 babies have been named Riley since 1996.

When at its peak in 2008, it ranked 6th when 575 parents chose the moniker for their baby boys. However after 25 years, the name is currently sliding down on the charts.

In addition to that, the given name has been in the top 10 baby names 3 times

Riley is common in Netherlands where over 750 new-borns have been given the name since 2015.

Currently at its peak, the moniker grabbed the 139th spot and 122 baby boys were given the name. Also, Riley is common in Queensland where over 5793 new-borns have been given the name since 1995.

At its zenith in 2007, the moniker grabbed the 4th spot and 465 baby boys were given the name. Also, Riley was a common name in Western Australia. Over 1576 babies have been named Riley since 2004.

When at the peak of its usage in 2007,. After 10 years of usage, the name has fallen out of the charts. Additionally, the first name has been in the top 5 baby names 3 times Also, A common name in Victoria with over 2344 new-borns have been given the name since 2008.

At its zenith in 2008, 378 boys were bestowed the name and it was ranked at 8th position.

Riley is a familiar baby name in Ireland, it has been in use since 2002 and was able to reach the top 200 names.

In 2012, it achieved its highest ever ranking of 101 on boy names chart when 75 babies were given the name Riley. There are over 801 babies that have been given the name Riley in Ireland.

Also, in France, it has been in use since 1992 and was able to reach the top 700 names. In 2014, it achieved its highest ever ranking of 656 on boy names chart when 77 babies were named Riley.

Over 714 babies in France have been named Riley.

Riley is an uncommon baby name in Belgium where it has been in use since 2007 and achieved its top ranking of 509 in 2017.

Over 115 babies in Belgium have been named Riley. The given name is a common name in Canada while somewhat familiar name in Australia, England, Ghana, New Zealand, Jamaica and Brazil.

As per our evaluation, over 250000 people has been named Riley globally.

Year	Boys		Girls
Year	Rank	Births	Rank	Births
2023	223	1627	43	4617
2022	225	1589	39	4886
2021	246	1434	37	5184
2020	257	1358	33	5323
2019	263	1370	30	5696
2018	250	1468	28	6001
2017	252	1468	25	6359
2016	224	1726	22	7151
2015	194	2092	35	5731
2014	174	2445	47	4795

View more ▾View full list ▾^{[1] Source: Social Security Administration}

Facts

Riley in Nordic countries

Countries	Men		Women
Countries	First Name	Secondary Name	First Name	Secondary Name
	653	286	74	31
	44	7	30	0
	45	26	24	14
	45	8	24	14
	32	0	24	0

What numerology tells about Riley?

You never allow yourself to explore your options, do whatever the hell you want to do at the moment, and act as you feel, and not as others expect you to act. You always find a creative way to express how you feel and turn your pain into some masterpiece. If you had to choose which animal you want to trade your human body with, you would choose a bird? You keep following your heart in order to avoid disappointment and solitude.

Go through the following names similar to Riley

Flora - Pleasing and Perennial unisex name Flora is dominantly used in Norwegian, Finnish and Arabic, meaning of Flora is "The Word Flos Which is of the Meaning Flower Blossom, Flower or Form of Florence" is rooted from Latin. On the list of baby girl names, prevailing Flora managed to reach 465 in year 1957 in United States
Gary - Mainly used in Swedish, Norwegian and Danish long standing and celebrated, Gary is originated from Welsh and Irish, meaning of Gary is "Spear or Hard or Strong" is used for both sexes
Denise - Noteworthy and Ceaseless Denises origin is Old Greek is used especially in English and French, meaning of Denise is "God of Wine or Nun" is given to both genders
Bert - Used in Finnish, Norwegian and Scandinavian unfading and famed, Bert means "Composition, Famous or Shining" which is rooted from English, Germanic and Old High German is used as a gender insensitive name

Irene - Trendy and Conifer Irene is originated from Old Greek, Irene means "The Peaceful or Palm Tree", mainly used in Norwegian, German and Swedish is given to both boys and girls

Middle names for Riley

These flying high and cutesy middle names flows beautifully with the baby name Riley .

View more middle names that goes with Riley.

Famous people named Riley

Riley Darnell, Tennessee Secretary of State
Riley Dobi Noel, murderer executed for the June 5, 1995 murder of Marcell Young, 17, Malak Hussian, 10
Riley Brett, American racecar driver
Riley Franklin McConnell, United States Navy officer
Riley P. Bechtel, American billionaire heir and businessman
Riley Keough, American actress, model and producer
Riley Weston, actress and screenwriter from Poughkeepsie
Riley Puckett, American country music pioneer
Riley Hern, Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender
Riley Smith, American actor
Riley Breckenridge, drummer for the band Thrice
Riley Odoms, former American football tight end
Riley Martin, {{cite web
Riley Smith, quarterback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League during the late 1930s

Riley Wallace, retired American basketball coach
Riley Chamberlin, American silent film actor
Riley Cote, former Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and formerly an assistant coach with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League
Riley Skinner, former American football quarterback
Riley J. Wilson, Louisiana educator, attorney
Riley L. Pitts, United States Army Captain and the first African-American commissioned officer to receive the Medal of Honor
Riley Armstrong, Canadian professional ice hockey coach and a former player
Riley E. Stratton, American attorney and judge in Oregon
Riley Matheson, professional American football player
Riley Nash, Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League

Riley Swanson, Riley Swanson, Jr
Riley Mattson, former American football offensive tackle
Riley O'Neill, Canadian professional soccer player
Riley Chase in Wannabe Dyke as Actress
Riley Van Cleve in The Final Contract as Actress
Riley Rose Campbell in Haven't We Been Here Before? as Actress
Riley Griffiths is an American actor, best known for his role as Charles Kaznyk in the 2011 film Super 8.
Riley Novak is notable for his acting in movie Mystery Mansion
Riley Baxter played the vital role of Black in 1999 movie Inkslingers.
In 1915 drama film, Wildfire, Riley Hatch played Matt Donovan.
Riley Hill, from 1945 action and adventure movie The Navajo Trail, who played Ranger Paul Mason.

Riley Clermont, from 2005 comedy flick Stealing God, who played the Don.

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Sources

Social Security Administration, https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/index.html
Office for National Statistics, https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths
Central Statistics Office - An Phríomh-Oifig Staidrimh, https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/babynames
Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques, https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2540004
Sociale Verzekeringsbank, https://statbel.fgov.be/en/themes/population/family-names-and-first-names/first-names-boys-and-girls
Sociale Verzekeringsbank, https://www.svb.nl/nl/kindernamen/
Births Deaths And Marriages Victoria, https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/births/naming-your-child/popular-baby-names-in-victoria
Department of Jutsice, Government of Western Australia, https://bdm.justice.wa.gov.au/_apps/BabyNames/Default.aspx?uid=1144-3594-8619-1127
NT.GOV.AU, https://nt.gov.au/law/bdm/popular-baby-names
Queensland Government - Open Data Portal, https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/top-100-baby-names
NSW Government, https://www.nsw.gov.au/family-and-relationships/births/popular-baby-names

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