Riley
Say it: RY-lee/ˈɹaɪ.li/
Boy and boyMeans usually explained as "rye clearing"5 letters2 syllables
#188
in Ireland (2025)
25
babies in 2025
#101
best rank (2012)
824
babies since 2002
Down 83
10-year rank change
Riley through the years
Compare with another name →boysgirls
Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | #188 | 16 | #267 |
| 2024 | 36 | #143 | 22 | #200 |
| 2023 | 41 | #136 | 33 | #145 |
| 2022 | 37 | #155 | 30 | #168 |
| 2021 | 41 | #147 | 24 | #201 |
| 2020 | 39 | #147 | 36 | #138 |
| 2019 | 38 | #152 | 31 | #165 |
| 2018 | 42 | #144 | 41 | #138 |
| 2017 | 36 | #166 | 29 | #178 |
| 2016 | 48 | #136 | 25 | #200 |
| 2015 | 68 | #105 | 15 | #316 |
| 2014 | 60 | #119 | 19 | #264 |
| 2013 | 65 | #112 | 4 | #748 |
| 2012 | 75 | #101 | 7 | #562 |
| 2011 | 59 | #123 | 12 | #396 |
| 2010 | 42 | #163 | 4 | #758 |
| 2009 | 26 | #214 | 4 | #742 |
| 2008 | 17 | #267 | 5 | #667 |
| 2007 | 11 | #309 | - | - |
| 2006 | 4 | #492 | - | - |
| 2005 | 7 | #343 | - | - |
| 2004 | 3 | #506 | - | - |
| 2002 | 4 | #393 | - | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Riley mean?
Usually explained as "rye clearing"
English surname, from Old English words for rye and a clearing; sometimes a form of the Irish surname Reilly.
Say it right
RYlee
The story of Riley
Riley is a surname that became a first name. Its main source is Ryley, a place in Lancashire whose name is made from Old English words for rye and a woodland clearing. Some Riley families are Irish, though. For them the surname is another spelling of Reilly, which comes from the Irish Ó Raghallaigh. Which story fits a particular family depends on where they came from.
It has been used as a boy’s name since the nineteenth century, and for girls since the 1990s.
In Ireland Riley first reached the boys’ list in 2002 and had its best year in 2012, with 75 boys and number 101. Girls followed from 2008, and the name peaked for them in 2018, with 41 girls. It has been far more popular in Northern Ireland, where it was 9th for boys in 2012.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Riley (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Riley (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Riley | 25 | 824 |
In Northern Ireland
#77 in 2025 with 31 babies. Best rank #9 (2012); 1,163 babies since 2001.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.
Riley is also given to girls: 357 since 2008, 16 in 2025.