Declining since 2017, #48 for girls today.
Popularity of Riley since 1880
Babies named Riley per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 458 |
| 1890s | 0 | 386 |
| 1900s | 0 | 383 |
| 1910s | 0 | 1,210 |
| 1920s | 11 | 1,668 |
| 1930s | 11 | 1,470 |
| 1940s | 21 | 1,663 |
| 1950s | 18 | 1,424 |
| 1960s | 11 | 938 |
| 1970s | 72 | 1,090 |
| 1980s | 680 | 3,436 |
| 1990s | 10,234 | 18,841 |
| 2000s | 45,533 | 39,622 |
| 2010s | 56,150 | 23,145 |
| 2020s | 29,219 | 9,291 |
Meaning & origin
Riley turned the friendliest corner of the surname trend into a two-decade run near the top of the charts. Rare enough before the 1990s, it climbed as a boys' name, crossed to the girls' side in the early 2000s, and hit its all-time peak in 2016, one year after Inside Out put a girl named Riley at the center of the most-discussed animated film of its era. The decline since 2017 has been gentle; at No. 48 in 2025, reaching about 1 in every 362 newborns, it remains a genuine mainstay.
Its strongholds are Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and the District of Columbia, extending the East Coast affinity that so many Irish-surname names show. Riley's appeal is easy to name: a cheerful long-i sound, the no-fuss unisex flexibility parents increasingly want, and the luck-adjacent glow of "the life of Riley." Families choosing it now get a name every teacher can spell that is finally getting less common in the classroom.
Riley has two independent surname sources. The Irish line anglicizes Ó Raghallaigh, "descendant of Raghallach," an early personal name whose derivation is unknown; the same surname more often surfaces as Reilly, as in the old idiom "the life of Riley." The English line is habitational, from places named with Old English ryge ("rye") and leah ("clearing"). As an American first name it appears in combined records from 1923, was modest and mostly male for decades, then crossed over: girls' use overtook boys' in the early 2000s. Its 2016 peak came the year after Pixar's Inside Out, whose young protagonist is named Riley.
Read more: Riley on Wikipedia
Where Riley is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Riley” around the world
Where Riley lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
60
babies in 2024
Ireland
25
babies in 2025
New Zealand
#50
in 2025
Quebec
32
babies in 2025
Australia (NSW)
#66
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ri, Rye
Famous people named Riley
- Riley Keough · American actress and granddaughter of Elvis Presley
Sibling names for Riley
Names that share Riley's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Harper, Quinn, Peyton, Avery, Rowan, Bailey, Cassidy, Delaney, Harley, Jamie, Kenzie, Morgan, Paige, Payton, Reagan, Rylie, Taylor, Ainslee, Alannah, Andi, Andie, Ashtyn, Baily, Brooklynn, Caylee, Codi, Corrie, Dani, Darby, Darci, Dylann, Emeri, Hayleigh, Jaimie, Jalyn, Kacey, Kacy, Karey, Kary, Kasey, Kassidy, Kaycee, Keely, Lexie, Murphy, Presley, Ryann, Saylor, Sydnee, Sydni, Tayler, Adison, Alyx, Ansleigh, Atley, Bayley, Baylie, Breeana, Cailee, Cailey, Caley, Cambrie, Cameryn, Camie, Caylie, Caylin, Charly, Cherrie, Codie, Collie, Delainey, Haily, Hayven, Jaci, Jacy, Jaedyn, Jaycie, Kadie, Kalee, Kasi, Kassidi, Kayci, Kaycie, Kaylei, Keelie, Kelcey, Kelcie, Kennady, Kennedie, Keyli, Kinzie, Kodie, Kylynn, Kynnedi, Laramie, Linzy, Mckenzi, Mylie, Rayleigh, Reegan, Shaylyn, Taylin, Teegan, Teigan, Tylee, Windy, Adali, Andee, Arleigh, Asley, Avrey, Baley, Baylei, Bradie, Breezy, Caileigh, Calley, Casi, Cassady, Cassidie, Cayley, Choyce, Colbi, Coree, Cydnee, Cylie, Dacey, Dailey, Daley, Danie, Darbi, Emsley, Frady, Haylea, Jadeyn, Jaimi, Jamy, Jaydee, Jerzey, Jordann, Kaeley, Kaely, Kaileah, Kaithlyn, Kaitlan, Kalley, Kaly, Karalynn, Kasidy, Kassey, Kaysee, Kaysi, Kealy, Keeleigh, Keeli, Keilly, Kendy, Kenedy, Kesley, Khole, Khylee, Khylie, Kiely, Kileigh, Kyndel, Lenyx, Mackenzee, Madasyn, Madisynn, Mailee, Makensie, Makenzee, Malori, Mavery, Maylie, Mckinsey, Morgann, Morgyn, Neeley, Peyten, Ramey, Raylie, Raynee, Reghan, Rhiley, Ryane, Safari, Scotti, Selby, Shailey, Shaley, Shaylan, Shayleen, Shellby, Shyenne, Skipper, Skyelar, Skylyn, Staley, Swayze, Sydnei, Talley, Yocelyn, Allysson, Aslee, Baili, Brennah, Bristal, Brooklen, Brylei, Cacey, Cailie, Cambell, Casee, Casidy, Cassi, Cassidee, Cassidi, Chancie, Charlye, Chasey, Dailee, Daily, Dally, Eisley, Emrey, Frankee, Genifer, Greenly, Hailea, Haliey, Jasey, Jasie, Kaisey, Kaitlen, Karmin, Kassady, Kaydi, Kayelyn, Kayse, Keileigh, Keiley, Keiri, Keisi, Kelcee, Kelsei, Kenzee, Kieley, Kilie, Kindell, Kirbie, Koralyn, Layce, Laycie, Lexey, Lezley, Linzey, Lundy, Lundyn, Lynley, Mackenize, Makenze, Mayley, Mckensey, Merly, Mikalyn, Mkenzie, Mylei, Paije, Raley, Raygan, Rayley, Reise, Remmie, Rital, Ryn, Shaelin, Shanan, Shannyn, Shaylea, Shyler, Sidni, Skiler, Sydny, Teighan, Yardley, Caily, Ceairra, Devaney, Kennley, Aubrii, Bassy, Bradee, Cadey, Caliegh, Cayci, Cheyan, Dacie, Daysie, Devynne, Elsey, Haeleigh, Heyli, Jersee, Jordane, Jury, Kadey, Kahlyn, Kahri, Kaydie, Kaysey, Kelty, Kennidee, Lacye, Mackena, Mackenzey, Mackenzye, Madason, Makenzey, Matison, Meyli, Mosley, Rayni, Rechy, Reganne, Shadie, Shaely, Skyley, Taydem, Tayelor, Tayllor, Taylorann, Wakely
Brothers: Parker, Sawyer, Carter, Finn, Hudson, Aiden, Logan, Brady, Brody, Carey, Casey, Kaden, Kayden, Aydan, Braeden, Braiden, Brandyn, Bronson, Cayden, Crew, Dekota, Donavan, Draven, Haiden, Jaiden, Jaxen, Jaydin, Jaylen, Jett, Jorden, Jordon, Jordy, Kaeden, Kirby, Konnor, Kory, Kyler, Maison, Mayson, Rion, Rony, Tory, Tristen, Bryar, Bryden, Cayce, Chayce, Cj, Codey, Corry, Cross, Curry, Deegan, Dyllan, Grayden, Jadin, Jaydan, Kase, Kc, Kendel, Kenney, Korben, Kyden, Landan, Leeland, Logen, Masen, Rayce, Romel, Skylor, Tayden, Torey, Tyce, Alexx, Aydyn, Bodee, Bodey, Bradey, Bradin, Braedan, Brodee, Bucky, Caidan, Callaway, Caydin, Chadley, Cobi, Codee, Colbey, Daegan, Dillyn, Donivan, Duffy, Hanley, Haydan, Jaydn, Jeyden, Kaedon, Kaidan, Kaydyn, Kerby, Kipling, Kodey, Koty, Obrian, Parish, Raider, Rawley, Renny, Reyli, Roney, Shayn, Syler, Tallon, Tarren, Tylik, Tyus, Aydrien, Brayn, Brodi, Bryndon, Cardin, Casy, Ceejay, Cully, Dray, Geddy, Gerron, Isaic, Jadden, Jadien, Jaki, Jaking, Jassen, Jaxyn, Jhayden, Jorey, Kailor, Kaylob, Keaten, Keiden, Koal, Kolbey, Konor, Kyliam, Macauley, Maycol, Mckade, Myers, Quadre, Rece, Redford, Rivan, Robi, Ryer, Schyler, Syd, Tevyn, Thomson, Tieler, Trestin, Tyeler, Tyeson, Tymier, Woodley, Zaide, Zakkery, Zakry, Caedan, Tank, Aason, Ayiden, Ayren, Brayen, Brenyn, Caide, Carmeron, Casin, Chaden, Chez, Coady, Cobin, Dakodah, Dempsy, Donnavan, Donovyn, Hutch, Jaramie, Jeydan, Kaylib, Khaidyn, Maysin, Okley, Random, Reace, Remon, Rocklin, Sneijder, Tannar, Teejay, Toretto, Trooper, Tyner, Tyri, Ukiah
Names like Riley
Names whose popularity has moved with Riley's over the last 50 years.
