Riley
Riley is an Irish surname-turned-first-name meaning 'courageous' or 'valiant,' derived from the Gaelic 'Ó Raghallaigh.' Originally used predominantly for boys, it has ancient Celtic roots connecting to bravery and strength.
Current Popularity
Popularity over time
Dashed bar: 2026 (projected): 1,710. How this is calculated
Yearly values
- 2011: 3,462
- 2012: 2,890
- 2013: 2,559
- 2014: 2,448
- 2015: 2,094
- 2016: 1,728
- 2017: 1,471
- 2018: 1,470
- 2019: 1,374
- 2020: 1,368
- 2021: 1,452
- 2022: 1,600
- 2023: 1,632
- 2024: 1,573
- 2025: 1,666
- 2026 (projected): 1,710
Good to Know
- •Increasingly popular as a unisex name, though historically male
- •Easy to spell and pronounce across English-speaking countries
- •Works well as both a first and middle name
- •Strong athletic and outdoorsy associations
- •Multiple spelling variations exist
Similar Names
Famous People
Riley Smith
Actor and singer
Riley Cooper
Former NFL wide receiver
Riley Cote
Former NHL hockey player
Riley Howell
Student hero remembered for courage
Statistics
105,025
Total births since 1880
2006
Peak year
Discovery
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