Riley is a unisex given name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish surname "Ó Raghallaigh," which means "descendant of Ragallach." Ragallach is believed to be a personal name meaning "fierce" or "valiant."
The name Riley first appeared as a surname in Ireland, with early records dating back to the 14th century. Over time, it began to be used as a given name for both boys and girls. In the United States, Riley has become particularly popular since the late 20th century, consistently ranking among the top 100 names for both sexes.
There are several possible spellings of the name Riley, including Reilly, Rileigh, Rylee, Ryli, and even RileyLee. Each spelling can have its own unique interpretation, but all share the Irish heritage and meaning associated with the original surname Ó Raghallaigh.
Riley is often chosen by parents for its strong and energetic sound, as well as its connection to Irish culture and history. Its unisex nature also makes it appealing to those who wish to give their child a name that transcends traditional gender norms.
In literature, Riley is the protagonist of "Rile
The name Riley has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past century in the United States. In the early decades of the 20th century, it was quite rare, with only a handful of births recorded each year between 1923 and 1968. However, starting in the mid-1970s, there was a notable rise in its popularity.
In 1975, there were 11 births with the name Riley, which more than doubled to 25 births in 1981. The following year, it nearly tripled again, reaching 36 births in 1982. This upward trend continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
The year 1996 marked a significant milestone with 1,150 births for the name Riley. This was the first time it had reached quadruple digits, indicating that it had become quite popular among parents. The trend continued, reaching over 2,000 births in both 2000 and 2001.
The peak popularity of the name Riley occurred between 2002 and 2016. During this period, it consistently ranked within the top 50 names for newborns each year, with a high of over 7,000 births in 2016. Since then, its popularity has somewhat decreased but remains quite common, with around 4,500 to 5,000 births per year.
In total, since 1923 until 2023, there have been approximately 132,790 babies named Riley in the United States. This demonstrates that while it was once a rare name, Riley has become quite popular and is now considered one of the more common names for newborns in the country.