Riley
A unisex name of Irish/English origin, meaning valiant; rye clearing.
How Riley has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #35 |
| 2016 | #22 |
| 2017 | #25 |
| 2018 | #28 |
| 2019 | #30 |
| 2020 | #33 |
| 2021 | #37 |
| 2022 | #39 |
| 2023 | #43 |
| 2024 | #42 |
| 2025 | #48 |
Riley by the numbers
In 2025, 619 babies in England and Wales were named Riley. In the US, 7,797 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given noticeably more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 7,131 babies in 2016, making it a 2010s name.
Names that come from Riley
Forms of Riley in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Rylierye clearing; a modern respelling of Riley896 in the US (2017)
- Rhyleerye clearing; a modern respelling of Riley125 in the US (2017)
- Rhyleighrye clearing; modern spelling variant of Riley40 in the US (2017)
- Rhylierye clearing; a form of Riley32 in the US (2017)
- Reilycourageous; a form of Riley15 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Riley. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
Sounds like Riley
Names that are said the same way as Riley, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
- Ryleerye clearing; a respelling of Ryley2,971 in the US (2017)
- Ryleighrye clearing; modern spelling variant of Riley1,865 in the US (2017)
- Rileevaliant; rye clearing; a modern respelling of Riley87 in the US (2017)
- Rileighcourageous; variant of Riley82 in the US (2017)
- Ryleirye clearing; a modern respelling of Riley or Ryley55 in the US (2017)
- Ryelee10 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean courage
Like Riley, each of these has courage in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Wyattbrave in war9,768 in the US (2017)
- Andrewmanly, brave8,228 in the US (2017)
- Leonardobrave lion; from Germanic elements4,113 in the US (2017)
- Everettbrave as a wild boar3,814 in the US (2017)
- Tristanbold, sorrowful; from Pictish origin3,333 in the US (2017)
- Emersonson of Emery, brave power3,275 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean a meadow or field
Like Riley, each of these has a meadow or field in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Savannahgrassy plain; treeless plain5,231 in the US (2017)
- Braydenbroad valley; a modern respelling of Braden5,153 in the US (2017)
- Kinsleyfrom the king's meadow; an English place name used as given name4,048 in the US (2017)
- Bentleymeadow of bent grass3,945 in the US (2017)
- Haileyhay meadow; form of Hayley3,691 in the US (2017)
- Haydenvalley with hay3,623 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Riley
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