Declining since 2019, #4,460 for girls today.
Popularity of Rylei since 1998
Babies named Rylei per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 17 | 0 |
| 2000s | 305 | 19 |
| 2010s | 666 | 44 |
| 2020s | 320 | 10 |
Meaning & origin
Rylei is a modern name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1998, reflecting the trend of respelling established names to create distinctive variations. Its highest point of use came in 2018, when it reached its peak rank. Since 2019, the name's trajectory has been falling, and in 2025 it ranked 4,460, given to approximately 1 in 51,847 newborns. Although it has not been strongly associated with any particular state, Rylei fits within a broader pattern of names ending in the 'lee' sound that gained popularity in the 2010s, such as Riley, Rylee, and Ryleigh. The name is primarily used for girls, and its origins are distinctly modern American.
Rylei is a modern English given name that emerged as a spelling variation of Riley. Riley itself derives from an Irish surname meaning 'rye clearing' or 'courageous.' The -ei ending became fashionable in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, particularly for girls. Rylei first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1998.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rye, Lee
Sibling names for Rylei
Names that share Rylei's style, for a brother or sister.
