Riley Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Riley is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Riley?
Riley is spelled R-I-L-E-Y. The name has 5 letters.
Riley at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- The name “Riley” is derived from Old English elements meaning “rye clearing” or “rye meadow.”
- Origin
- Riley is commonly associated with an English surname derived from a place name indicating a clearing or meadow where rye was grown.
- Pronunciation
- RYE-lee · 2 syllables
Riley Popularity in 2025
Rank#48
Recorded Births4,441
Rank#207
Recorded Births1,666
- Girls usage fell 6 places to #48 and recorded 216 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 22 places to #207 and recorded 93 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Riley Mean?
The name “Riley” is derived from Old English elements meaning “rye clearing” or “rye meadow.”
Origin: Riley is commonly associated with an English surname derived from a place name indicating a clearing or meadow where rye was grown.
How Do You Pronounce Riley?
PronunciationRYE-lee
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Riley?
- History
- Riley has been used historically as a surname tied to geographic locations in England before becoming adopted as a given name.
Riley Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 4,441 | #48 |
| 2025 | Boys | 1,666 | #207 |
| 2024 | Girls | 4,657 | #42 |
| 2024 | Boys | 1,573 | #229 |
| 2023 | Girls | 4,643 | #43 |
| 2023 | Boys | 1,632 | #223 |
| 2022 | Girls | 4,914 | #39 |
| 2022 | Boys | 1,600 | #225 |
| 2021 | Girls | 5,225 | #37 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,452 | #245 |
| 2020 | Girls | 5,339 | #33 |
| 2020 | Boys | 1,368 | #257 |
| 2019 | Girls | 5,712 | #30 |
| 2019 | Boys | 1,374 | #263 |
| 2018 | Girls | 6,010 | #28 |
| 2018 | Boys | 1,470 | #250 |
| 2017 | Girls | 6,368 | #25 |
| 2017 | Boys | 1,471 | #252 |
| 2016 | Girls | 7,159 | #22 |
| 2016 | Boys | 1,728 | #224 |
| 2015 | Girls | 5,739 | #35 |
| 2015 | Boys | 2,094 | #194 |
| 2014 | Girls | 4,800 | #47 |
| 2014 | Boys | 2,448 | #174 |
When Was Riley Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2016 · Girls
7,159 recorded births
National rank #22
2017 · Girls
6,368 recorded births
National rank #25
2018 · Girls
6,010 recorded births
National rank #28
2008 · Girls
5,774 recorded births
National rank #39
Where Riley Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| PA | #22 | 231 |
| RI | #23 | 22 |
| CT | #24 | 73 |
| KY | #27 | 94 |
| LA | #27 | 75 |
| OR | #27 | 68 |
| VA | #29 | 157 |
| NH | #29 | 29 |