gender neutral
Riley
valiant, courageous
About Riley
This name carries a spirited, adventurous quality that resonates with modern parents seeking something both familiar and distinctive. Riley strikes an appealing balance—approachable yet refined, traditional yet contemporary. The name has gained remarkable momentum across English-speaking countries, appreciated for its friendly sound and gender-neutral versatility. Parents often choose Riley for its upbeat, energetic vibe that suggests confidence without arrogance. It works beautifully in professional settings while maintaining a warmth that makes it perfect for childhood. The name flows easily with most surnames and pairs well with both classic and modern middle names. Riley evokes images of someone outgoing, creative, and adaptable—qualities many parents hope to see in their children.
Popularity of the Name Riley
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #265 | ||||
| 1881 | #222 | ||||
| 1882 | #224 | ||||
| 1883 | #238 | ||||
| 1884 | #253 | ||||
| 1885 | #210 | ||||
| 1886 | #274 | ||||
| 1887 | #240 | ||||
| 1888 | #296 | ||||
| 1889 | #248 | ||||
| 1890 | #277 | ||||
| 1891 | #322 | ||||
| 1892 | #297 | ||||
| 1893 | #289 | ||||
| 1894 | #288 | ||||
| 1895 | #259 | ||||
| 1896 | #300 | ||||
| 1897 | #268 | ||||
| 1898 | #305 | ||||
| 1899 | #299 | ||||
| 1900 | #286 | ||||
| 1901 | #332 | ||||
| 1902 | #325 | ||||
| 1903 | #359 | ||||
| 1904 | #356 | ||||
| 1905 | #357 | ||||
| 1906 | #344 | ||||
| 1907 | #348 | ||||
| 1908 | #353 | ||||
| 1909 | #332 | ||||
| 1910 | #315 | ||||
| 1911 | #424 | ||||
| 1912 | #419 | ||||
| 1913 | #433 | ||||
| 1914 | #486 | ||||
| 1915 | #461 | ||||
| 1916 | #436 | ||||
| 1917 | #489 | ||||
| 1918 | #450 | ||||
| 1919 | #421 | ||||
| 1920 | #473 | ||||
| 1921 | #491 | ||||
| 1922 | #482 | ||||
| 1923 | #467 | ||||
| 1924 | #478 | ||||
| 1925 | #471 | ||||
| 1926 | #453 | ||||
| 1927 | #478 | ||||
| 1928 | #471 | ||||
| 1929 | #461 | ||||
| 1930 | #467 | ||||
| 1931 | #492 | ||||
| 1932 | #503 | ||||
| 1933 | #448 | ||||
| 1934 | #450 | ||||
| 1935 | #457 | ||||
| 1936 | #452 | ||||
| 1937 | #483 | ||||
| 1938 | #491 | ||||
| 1939 | #490 | ||||
| 1940 | #474 | ||||
| 1941 | #446 | ||||
| 1942 | #493 | ||||
| 1943 | #474 | ||||
| 1944 | #467 | ||||
| 1945 | #509 | ||||
| 1946 | #503 | ||||
| 1947 | #495 | ||||
| 1948 | #494 | ||||
| 1949 | #510 | ||||
| 1950 | #547 | ||||
| 1951 | #569 | ||||
| 1952 | #546 | ||||
| 1953 | #552 | ||||
| 1954 | #573 | ||||
| 1955 | #648 | ||||
| 1956 | #655 | ||||
| 1957 | #647 | ||||
| 1958 | #699 | ||||
| 1959 | #720 | ||||
| 1960 | #746 | ||||
| 1961 | #766 | ||||
| 1962 | #727 | ||||
| 1963 | #770 | ||||
| 1964 | #748 | ||||
| 1965 | #864 | ||||
| 1966 | #761 | ||||
| 1967 | #841 | ||||
| 1968 | #769 | ||||
| 1969 | #867 | ||||
| 1970 | #908 | ||||
| 1971 | #827 | ||||
| 1972 | #876 | ||||
| 1973 | #841 | ||||
| 1974 | #877 | ||||
| 1975 | #809 | ||||
| 1976 | #814 | ||||
| 1977 | #795 | ||||
| 1978 | #653 | ||||
| 1979 | #671 | ||||
| 1980 | #678 | ||||
| 1981 | #635 | ||||
| 1982 | #613 | ||||
| 1983 | #563 | ||||
| 1984 | #549 | ||||
| 1985 | #473 | ||||
| 1986 | #431 | ||||
| 1987 | #399 | #334 | |||
| 1988 | #378 | ||||
| 1989 | #342 | ||||
| 1990 | #311 | #326 | |||
| 1991 | #297 | #131 | |||
| 1992 | #267 | #231 | #105 | ||
| 1993 | #218 | #336 | #92 | ||
| 1994 | #194 | #194 | #96 | ||
| 1995 | #170 | #182 | #69 | ||
| 1996 | #146 | #205 | #65 | ||
| 1997 | #135 | #479 | #140 | #57 | |
| 1998 | #128 | #363 | #108 | #52 | |
| 1999 | #127 | #321 | #120 | #50 | |
| 2000 | #109 | #211 | #96 | #50 | |
| 2001 | #105 | #153 | #64 | #49 | |
| 2002 | #99 | #133 | #58 | #441 | #53 |
| 2003 | #104 | #118 | #34 | #48 | |
| 2004 | #106 | #94 | #23 | #609 | #49 |
| 2005 | #106 | #80 | #28 | #367 | #51 |
| 2006 | #101 | #65 | #25 | #574 | #53 |
| 2007 | #109 | #60 | #17 | #321 | #59 |
| 2008 | #106 | #34 | #6 | #274 | #58 |
| 2009 | #107 | #34 | #10 | #218 | #56 |
| 2010 | #105 | #27 | #19 | #163 | #66 |
| 2011 | #111 | #12 | #22 | #124 | #80 |
| 2012 | #133 | #6 | #34 | #101 | #103 |
| 2013 | #158 | #19 | #32 | #112 | #110 |
| 2014 | #174 | #31 | #44 | #119 | #106 |
| 2015 | #194 | #40 | #40 | #105 | #126 |
| 2016 | #224 | #39 | #42 | #139 | #126 |
| 2017 | #252 | #42 | #41 | #168 | #148 |
| 2018 | #250 | #56 | #50 | #148 | #163 |
| 2019 | #263 | #59 | #54 | #156 | #186 |
| 2020 | #257 | #67 | #53 | #151 | #146 |
| 2021 | #245 | #73 | #61 | #148 | #151 |
| 2022 | #225 | #78 | #52 | #156 | #154 |
| 2023 | #223 | #77 | #46 | #138 | #169 |
| 2024 | #229 | #78 | #47 | #146 | #140 |
| 2025 | #208 | #82 | #66 | #195 | #174 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Riley
Names Similar to Riley
Nicknames for Riley
- Ri
- Riles
- Ry
- Lee
Famous People Named Riley
| Riley Keough | American actress |
| Riley Green | American country singer |
| Riley Reid | American pornographic actress |
| Riley Stearns | American filmmaker |
| Riley Nash | Canadian ice hockey player |
| Riley Cote | Canadian ice hockey player |
| Riley Cooper | American football player |
| Riley Gale | American musician |
| Riley Voelkel | American actress |
| Riley Sheahan | Canadian ice hockey player |
| Riley Griffiths | American actor |
| Riley Ferguson | American football player |
| Riley Stadel | Canadian ice hockey player |
| Riley Rossmo | Canadian comic book artist |
| Riley Shepard | American singer-songwriter |
| Riley Day | Australian sprinter |
| Riley Smith | English cricketer |
| Riley Puckett | American country musician |
Characters Named Riley
| Riley Andersen | Inside Out |
| Riley Poole | National Treasure |
| Riley Matthews | Girl Meets World |
| Riley Finn | Buffy the Vampire Slayer |
| Riley Freeman | The Boondocks |
| Riley Finnegan | Friday Night Lights |
| Riley Hawkins | Call of Duty - Ghosts |
| Riley Daring | The Replacements |
| Riley Griff | Terminator - Dark Fate |
| Riley Stavros | Degrassi - The Next Generation |
| Riley Ziegenmeyer | SpongeBob SquarePants |
| Riley Elliot | The Originals |
| Riley Denbo | CSI - Crime Scene Investigation |
| Riley Hicks | Prometheus |
| Riley Blue | Sense8 |
| Riley Adams | CSI - Crime Scene Investigation |
| Riley Shan | The Saga of Darren Shan |