Riley
Both an English surname from places meaning rye clearing, from Old English ryge and leah, and an anglicized form of the Irish O Raghallaigh.
Riley in 2025
Riley was given to 6,107 babies in the United States in 2025 — 1,666 boys and 4,441 girls, making it the 74th most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 543 babies born.
The history of Riley
Riley reached its highest point in 2008, when 9,906 babies were given the name, ranking 56th that year. Its best-ever ranking was 54th, in 2016.
Across the 146 years of records since 1880, 246,985 babies have been named Riley. Half of them were born before 2009, which places the name's centre of gravity with Generation Z.
Riley by decade
| Decade | Babies named Riley | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 458 | 451 |
| 1890s | 386 | 656 |
| 1900s | 383 | 744 |
| 1910s | 1,210 | 827 |
| 1920s | 1,679 | 955 |
| 1930s | 1,481 | 938 |
| 1940s | 1,684 | 932 |
| 1950s | 1,442 | 1,202 |
| 1960s | 949 | 1,709 |
| 1970s | 1,162 | 1,429 |
| 1980s | 4,116 | 599 |
| 1990s | 29,075 | 137 |
| 2000s | 85,155 | 56 |
| 2010s | 79,295 | 54 |
| 2020s | 38,510 | 64 |
Where Riley is heading
Riley has fallen 22% over the past decade, from 7,833 babies in 2015 to 6,107 in 2025.
Names like Riley
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Riley.