NameChart

Riley

Unisex

Riley has been given to 246,985 babies in the U.S. since 1880. It peaked in 2008 and currently ranks #48 for girls and #208 for boys (2025).

Meaning & origin /ˈɹaɪ.li/

From Ryley in Lancashire, from Old English ryge (“rye”) + leah (“clearing, meadow”). Equivalent to rye +‎ -ley (“lea”)API. * A variant of Reilly, from Irish Ó Raghallaigh (see O'Reilly).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025

01.79k3.58k5.369k7.159k 18801900192019401960198020002020 Girls Boys
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.

Total babies

246,985

Peak year

2008 (9,906 babies)

Rank in 2025

#48 for girls · #208 for boys

First recorded

1880

10-year trend

▼ -22%

Gender split

57% girls / 43% boys

Famous people named Riley

Riley Reid

American pornographic actress (born 1991)

Riley Steele

American pornographic actress

Cameron Monaghan

American actor and model

Riley McGree

Australian association football player

Notability data from Wikidata (CC0).

Names with a similar vibe

Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Riley.

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