Fun Facts About the Name Riley
- A newer favorite: Riley first entered the U.S. top 100 in 2002 and stayed there through 2025 - a run of 24 consecutive years.
- More than 246 thousand babies named Riley: U.S. records list 246,928 babies given the name Riley from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 105,010 boys received the name Riley.
What Does the Name Riley Mean?
Riley is an English place name and surname meaning "rye clearing," from Old English rȳge "rye" and lēah "woodland clearing." It is also an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Raghallaigh, better known in English as O'Reilly or Reilly. That surname means "descendant of Raghallach," a personal name often interpreted as "valiant," though its exact sense is not certain. The English and Irish derivations are independent, so different families named Riley may have different origins.
Riley Name History & Origins
The English surname Riley comes from one or more places in England named Riley, such as Riley in Lancashire. Those place names were formed from Old English rȳge, "rye," and lēah, "woodland clearing," so the surname originally described someone from a rye clearing. It appears in medieval English records as a hereditary surname.
In Ireland, Riley is an anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ó Raghallaigh, meaning "descendant of Raghallach." The Ó Raghallaigh family was prominent in County Cavan and in the territory of East Breifne. English documents rendered the name in several ways, including O'Reilly and Reilly; Riley is one of those anglicized spellings.
As a first name, Riley is a transferred use of the surname. It is used for both boys and girls in English-speaking countries. Modern fictional characters named Riley, such as the girl in the 2015 film Inside Out, are recent examples; they did not create the name, which already had a long history as a surname.
How Popular is the Name Riley?
Riley recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2016. Riley entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 2002.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #48 | 4,441 | 0.2763% |
| 2024 | #42 | 4,644 | 0.2879% |
| 2023 | #43 | 4,637 | 0.2893% |
| 2022 | #39 | 4,906 | 0.2994% |
| 2021 | #37 | 5,219 | 0.3183% |
| 2020 | #33 | 5,338 | 0.3304% |
| 2019 | #30 | 5,710 | 0.3404% |
| 2018 | #28 | 6,009 | 0.3534% |
| 2017 | #25 | 6,366 | 0.3689% |
| 2016 | #22 | 7,159 | 0.4041% |
| 2015 | #35 | 5,738 | 0.3215% |
| 2014 | #47 | 4,798 | 0.2687% |
| 2013 | #45 | 4,941 | 0.2816% |
| 2012 | #47 | 4,833 | 0.2745% |
| 2011 | #47 | 5,043 | 0.2867% |
| 2010 | #40 | 5,543 | 0.3119% |
| 2009 | #38 | 5,636 | 0.3068% |
| 2008 | #39 | 5,773 | 0.3053% |
| 2007 | #52 | 5,212 | 0.2711% |
| 2006 | #56 | 5,056 | 0.2660% |
| 2005 | #54 | 5,127 | 0.2775% |
| 2004 | #58 | 4,982 | 0.2713% |
| 2003 | #72 | 4,243 | 0.2322% |
| 2002 | #77 | 3,906 | 0.2174% |
| 2001 | #106 | 3,044 | 0.1691% |
| 2000 | #131 | 2,552 | 0.1405% |
| 1999 | #138 | 2,312 | 0.1303% |
| 1998 | #166 | 1,877 | 0.1062% |
| 1997 | #184 | 1,669 | 0.0959% |
| 1996 | #247 | 1,150 | 0.0656% |
| 1995 | #287 | 969 | 0.0551% |
| 1994 | #350 | 756 | 0.0423% |
| 1993 | #453 | 553 | 0.0306% |
| 1992 | #556 | 424 | 0.0230% |
| 1991 | #727 | 286 | 0.0153% |
| 1990 | #826 | 238 | 0.0125% |
| 1989 | #1,016 | 169 | 0.0092% |
| 1988 | #1,216 | 124 | 0.0070% |
| 1987 | #1,482 | 88 | 0.0051% |
| 1986 | #1,337 | 99 | 0.0058% |
| 1985 | #1,779 | 64 | 0.0037% |
| 1984 | #3,690 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1983 | #2,506 | 37 | 0.0022% |
| 1982 | #2,628 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1981 | #3,409 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 1980 | #3,964 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1979 | #4,566 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1978 | #5,138 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1977 | #6,224 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1976 | #7,914 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #5,417 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #6,717 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #7,241 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #7,909 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #6,354 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #5,931 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #4,834 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #6,053 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #5,175 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1943 | #5,235 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #5,233 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #4,949 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1937 | #4,174 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1930 | #5,120 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1929 | #4,483 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1923 | #5,572 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #208 | 1,666 | 0.0975% |
| 2024 | #229 | 1,567 | 0.0914% |
| 2023 | #223 | 1,631 | 0.0955% |
| 2022 | #226 | 1,599 | 0.0917% |
| 2021 | #246 | 1,448 | 0.0828% |
| 2020 | #257 | 1,368 | 0.0793% |
| 2019 | #263 | 1,373 | 0.0766% |
| 2018 | #250 | 1,470 | 0.0810% |
| 2017 | #252 | 1,471 | 0.0795% |
| 2016 | #224 | 1,728 | 0.0911% |
| 2015 | #195 | 2,093 | 0.1092% |
| 2014 | #174 | 2,446 | 0.1274% |
| 2013 | #158 | 2,559 | 0.1353% |
| 2012 | #133 | 2,890 | 0.1524% |
| 2011 | #111 | 3,462 | 0.1823% |
| 2010 | #105 | 3,649 | 0.1902% |
| 2009 | #107 | 3,791 | 0.1911% |
| 2008 | #106 | 4,131 | 0.2025% |
| 2007 | #109 | 3,973 | 0.1914% |
| 2006 | #101 | 4,396 | 0.2139% |
| 2005 | #106 | 4,110 | 0.2058% |
| 2004 | #106 | 4,110 | 0.2071% |
| 2003 | #104 | 4,077 | 0.2064% |
| 2002 | #99 | 3,959 | 0.2039% |
| 2001 | #105 | 3,653 | 0.1880% |
| 2000 | #109 | 3,421 | 0.1742% |
| 1999 | #127 | 2,970 | 0.1547% |
| 1998 | #128 | 3,013 | 0.1576% |
| 1997 | #135 | 2,833 | 0.1503% |
| 1996 | #146 | 2,393 | 0.1263% |
| 1995 | #170 | 1,919 | 0.1008% |
| 1994 | #194 | 1,588 | 0.0822% |
| 1993 | #218 | 1,378 | 0.0703% |
| 1992 | #267 | 1,067 | 0.0534% |
| 1991 | #297 | 865 | 0.0428% |
| 1990 | #311 | 814 | 0.0396% |
| 1989 | #342 | 675 | 0.0337% |
| 1988 | #378 | 529 | 0.0276% |
| 1987 | #399 | 476 | 0.0255% |
| 1986 | #431 | 403 | 0.0219% |
| 1985 | #473 | 334 | 0.0181% |
| 1984 | #549 | 252 | 0.0140% |
| 1983 | #563 | 225 | 0.0126% |
| 1982 | #613 | 198 | 0.0109% |
| 1981 | #633 | 181 | 0.0101% |
| 1980 | #678 | 164 | 0.0092% |
| 1979 | #671 | 162 | 0.0094% |
| 1978 | #651 | 167 | 0.0102% |
| 1977 | #795 | 116 | 0.0071% |
| 1976 | #814 | 106 | 0.0068% |
| 1975 | #808 | 107 | 0.0069% |
| 1974 | #878 | 85 | 0.0054% |
| 1973 | #840 | 90 | 0.0058% |
| 1972 | #877 | 85 | 0.0052% |
| 1971 | #827 | 96 | 0.0054% |
| 1970 | #908 | 78 | 0.0042% |
| 1969 | #867 | 79 | 0.0044% |
| 1968 | #769 | 94 | 0.0054% |
| 1967 | #841 | 73 | 0.0042% |
| 1966 | #761 | 93 | 0.0052% |
| 1965 | #865 | 73 | 0.0039% |
| 1964 | #748 | 106 | 0.0053% |
| 1963 | #770 | 99 | 0.0049% |
| 1962 | #727 | 112 | 0.0054% |
| 1961 | #767 | 102 | 0.0048% |
| 1960 | #747 | 107 | 0.0050% |
| 1959 | #721 | 113 | 0.0053% |
| 1958 | #700 | 115 | 0.0054% |
| 1957 | #648 | 141 | 0.0065% |
| 1956 | #656 | 134 | 0.0063% |
| 1955 | #649 | 130 | 0.0063% |
| 1954 | #574 | 166 | 0.0081% |
| 1953 | #553 | 164 | 0.0083% |
| 1952 | #547 | 163 | 0.0084% |
| 1951 | #570 | 146 | 0.0078% |
| 1950 | #548 | 152 | 0.0085% |
| 1949 | #511 | 170 | 0.0096% |
| 1948 | #494 | 179 | 0.0102% |
| 1947 | #495 | 186 | 0.0102% |
| 1946 | #503 | 166 | 0.0102% |
| 1945 | #509 | 139 | 0.0103% |
| 1944 | #467 | 171 | 0.0125% |
| 1943 | #474 | 171 | 0.0120% |
| 1942 | #493 | 157 | 0.0114% |
| 1941 | #446 | 174 | 0.0142% |
| 1940 | #474 | 150 | 0.0129% |
| 1939 | #490 | 139 | 0.0126% |
| 1938 | #491 | 141 | 0.0127% |
| 1937 | #483 | 139 | 0.0130% |
| 1936 | #452 | 156 | 0.0150% |
| 1935 | #457 | 156 | 0.0150% |
| 1934 | #450 | 156 | 0.0151% |
| 1933 | #448 | 153 | 0.0154% |
| 1932 | #503 | 131 | 0.0125% |
| 1931 | #492 | 137 | 0.0132% |
| 1930 | #467 | 162 | 0.0148% |
| 1929 | #461 | 163 | 0.0152% |
| 1928 | #471 | 168 | 0.0152% |
| 1927 | #478 | 162 | 0.0144% |
| 1926 | #453 | 179 | 0.0161% |
| 1925 | #471 | 165 | 0.0148% |
| 1924 | #478 | 168 | 0.0148% |
| 1923 | #467 | 174 | 0.0159% |
| 1922 | #482 | 163 | 0.0150% |
| 1921 | #491 | 160 | 0.0145% |
| 1920 | #473 | 166 | 0.0156% |
| 1919 | #421 | 194 | 0.0198% |
| 1918 | #450 | 174 | 0.0172% |
| 1917 | #489 | 139 | 0.0150% |
| 1916 | #436 | 166 | 0.0186% |
| 1915 | #461 | 142 | 0.0167% |
| 1914 | #486 | 101 | 0.0154% |
| 1913 | #433 | 97 | 0.0189% |
| 1912 | #419 | 87 | 0.0202% |
| 1911 | #424 | 47 | 0.0208% |
| 1910 | #315 | 63 | 0.0324% |
| 1909 | #332 | 49 | 0.0299% |
| 1908 | #353 | 42 | 0.0272% |
| 1907 | #348 | 40 | 0.0272% |
| 1906 | #344 | 37 | 0.0278% |
| 1905 | #357 | 34 | 0.0257% |
| 1904 | #356 | 32 | 0.0250% |
| 1903 | #359 | 29 | 0.0243% |
| 1902 | #325 | 37 | 0.0302% |
| 1901 | #332 | 30 | 0.0282% |
| 1900 | #286 | 53 | 0.0352% |
| 1899 | #299 | 35 | 0.0330% |
| 1898 | #305 | 39 | 0.0318% |
| 1897 | #268 | 44 | 0.0390% |
| 1896 | #300 | 39 | 0.0326% |
| 1895 | #259 | 49 | 0.0417% |
| 1894 | #288 | 38 | 0.0328% |
| 1893 | #289 | 36 | 0.0321% |
| 1892 | #297 | 39 | 0.0320% |
| 1891 | #322 | 28 | 0.0277% |
| 1890 | #277 | 39 | 0.0351% |
| 1889 | #248 | 44 | 0.0398% |
| 1888 | #296 | 37 | 0.0306% |
| 1887 | #240 | 46 | 0.0454% |
| 1886 | #274 | 39 | 0.0352% |
| 1885 | #210 | 58 | 0.0538% |
| 1884 | #253 | 47 | 0.0411% |
| 1883 | #238 | 45 | 0.0430% |
| 1882 | #224 | 54 | 0.0475% |
| 1881 | #222 | 47 | 0.0467% |
| 1880 | #265 | 41 | 0.0371% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Riley
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Riley Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Riley's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Riley's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.