Riley Unisex
Origin(s)
PronunciationRYE-lee / /ˈraɪli/Irish; English
Meaning
Irish: valiant; English: rye clearing
Historical & Cultural Background
Riley is derived from the Irish surname O'Reilly, which means 'descendant of Raghailleach.' It has been used as a given name since the 20th century, gaining popularity in English-speaking countries. The name has a unisex appeal, though it is more commonly used for boys in recent years.
Trend Summary
Riley has seen a steady increase in popularity in the United States, particularly for boys, over the past few decades.
Similar Names
Variants
- Rylee
- Rylie
International Variants
- Riley (English)
- Ryley (English)
Famous people named Riley
Riley Keough is an American actress and model known for her roles in films such as 'Mad Max: Fury Road.'.
Riley Cooper is a former American football wide receiver who played for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL.
Riley Smith is an American actor and musician recognized for his appearances in television series like 'Frequency.'.
Riley Cote is a former professional ice hockey player known for his time with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Fictional characters named Riley
Riley is a character in the animated film 'Inside Out,' representing the emotions of a young girl.
Riley Matthews is a character in the television series 'Girl Meets World,' known for her coming-of-age experiences.
Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Riley was first seen in the United States in 1880. Riley has ranked as high as #172 nationally, which occurred in 2006, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, Washington, and Minnesota. In the past 5 years the name Riley has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Riley (2024)
State | Births | Share |
---|---|---|
CA | 124 | |
TX | 114 | |
FL | 86 | |
NC | 72 | |
GA | 69 | |
NY | 64 | |
TN | 60 | |
OH | 57 | |
MI | 56 | |
PA | 56 | |
AL | 51 | |
IL | 49 | |
MO | 46 | |
VA | 46 | |
WA | 39 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
Year | Births |
---|---|
1880 | 41 |
1881 | 47 |
1882 | 54 |
1883 | 45 |
1884 | 47 |
1885 | 58 |
1886 | 39 |
1887 | 46 |
1888 | 37 |
1889 | 44 |
1890 | 39 |
1891 | 28 |
1892 | 39 |
1893 | 36 |
1894 | 38 |
1895 | 49 |
1896 | 39 |
1897 | 44 |
1898 | 39 |
1899 | 35 |
1900 | 53 |
1901 | 30 |
1902 | 37 |
1903 | 29 |
1904 | 32 |
1905 | 34 |
1906 | 37 |
1907 | 40 |
1908 | 42 |
1909 | 49 |
1910 | 63 |
1911 | 47 |
1912 | 87 |
1913 | 97 |
1914 | 101 |
1915 | 142 |
1916 | 166 |
1917 | 139 |
1918 | 174 |
1919 | 194 |
1920 | 166 |
1921 | 160 |
1922 | 163 |
1923 | 174 |
1924 | 168 |
1925 | 165 |
1926 | 179 |
1927 | 162 |
1928 | 168 |
1929 | 163 |
1930 | 162 |
1931 | 137 |
1932 | 131 |
1933 | 153 |
1934 | 156 |
1935 | 156 |
1936 | 156 |
1937 | 139 |
1938 | 141 |
1939 | 139 |
1940 | 150 |
1941 | 174 |
1942 | 157 |
1943 | 171 |
1944 | 171 |
1945 | 139 |
1946 | 166 |
1947 | 186 |
1948 | 179 |
1949 | 170 |
1950 | 152 |
1951 | 146 |
1952 | 163 |
1953 | 164 |
1954 | 166 |
1955 | 130 |
1956 | 134 |
1957 | 141 |
1958 | 115 |
1959 | 113 |
1960 | 107 |
1961 | 102 |
1962 | 112 |
1963 | 99 |
1964 | 106 |
1965 | 73 |
1966 | 93 |
1967 | 73 |
1968 | 94 |
1969 | 79 |
1970 | 78 |
1971 | 96 |
1972 | 85 |
1973 | 90 |
1974 | 85 |
1975 | 107 |
1976 | 106 |
1977 | 116 |
1978 | 167 |
1979 | 162 |
1980 | 164 |
1981 | 181 |
1982 | 198 |
1983 | 225 |
1984 | 252 |
1985 | 334 |
1986 | 403 |
1987 | 476 |
1988 | 529 |
1989 | 675 |
1990 | 814 |
1991 | 865 |
1992 | 1,067 |
1993 | 1,378 |
1994 | 1,588 |
1995 | 1,919 |
1996 | 2,393 |
1997 | 2,833 |
1998 | 3,013 |
1999 | 2,970 |
2000 | 3,421 |
2001 | 3,653 |
2002 | 3,959 |
2003 | 4,077 |
2004 | 4,110 |
2005 | 4,110 |
2006 | 4,396 |
2007 | 3,973 |
2008 | 4,131 |
2009 | 3,791 |
2010 | 3,649 |
2011 | 3,462 |
2012 | 2,890 |
2013 | 2,559 |
2014 | 2,446 |
2015 | 2,093 |
2016 | 1,728 |
2017 | 1,471 |
2018 | 1,470 |
2019 | 1,373 |
2020 | 1,368 |
2021 | 1,448 |
2022 | 1,599 |
2023 | 1,631 |
2024 | 1,567 |