Given name & surname · also Old Irish, Irish
Riley
“from the rye clearing; a courageous woman”
Riley is used as a given name and a surname. One interpretation is “from the rye clearing; a courageous woman.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
One interpretation is “from the rye clearing; a courageous woman.” Its derivation is not certain.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with English and Irish naming traditions. The precise derivation is uncertain.
How it developed
From Old English ryge (“rye”), from Irish Ó Raghallaigh, built from English rye + -leigh (“lea”).
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Riley through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 246,985
- 105,025 boys · 141,960 girls
- Most popular year
- 2008
- 9,906 babies
- 2025
- 6,107
- #48 for girls · #208 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −16%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 22% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 4,441 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 48 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 21.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 7,159 in 2016. It also appeared in 1,666 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (378). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 191,103 as a first name in 2020; 129,431 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Riley’s family of names
In English usage, Riley has a related form in Rylee. Riley has a related form in Rylee. Riley has a related form in Rylie.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 17
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Riley
- Riley McGreeAustralian association football playerborn 1998
- Riley VoelkelAmerican actressborn 1990
- Riley SmithAmerican actor-modelborn 1978
- Riley Salmonvolleyball playerborn 1976
- Riley FitzsimmonsAustralian canoeistborn 1996
- Riley NashCanadian ice hockey playerborn 1989
- Riley SheahanCanadian ice hockey playerborn 1991
- Riley BarberAmerican ice hockey playerborn 1994
- Riley Meredithcricketerborn 1996
Characters named Riley: Riley Finn (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Riley, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lucy
“light”
>99% girls
Roslin
“a little red-haired boy”
>99% girls
Imogen
“a maiden” · “one who is innocent and pure”
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Heeney
“God is gracious”
—
Greer
“one who is alert and watchful” · “watchful”
20% boys · 80% girls
Macbeth
“the son of Beth”
37% boys · 63% girls
Dervla
“one's true desire; a poet's daughter”
>99% girls
Mctigue
“son of the poet”
—