How to say it
RIE · lee
ˈraɪ.li
Unisex
Riley
Courageous, valiant
What it means
From the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Raghallaigh, meaning 'descendant of Raghallach.' The root Raghallach possibly traces to an Old Irish word for courageous or valiant.
The Riley surname spread with Irish emigration to America in the 19th century. The shift to a given name happened in the 20th century, leaning masculine until the 1990s when it flipped to majority feminine in US usage (though the name stays unisex in practice). Inside Out (2015) gave the name a generation of Pixar-anchored girls, and the 2024 sequel renewed it. Currently US top fifty for both sexes, slightly more often feminine. Variant spellings (Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie) have their own popularity tracks.
How to spell Riley
The standard spelling is Riley. Common variants include Reilly, Reily, Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie, but Riley is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
Feminine: peaked at #22 in 2016, currently #48 in 2025.
Masculine: peaked at #99 in 2002, currently #208 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Inside Out (2015) put Riley in the pop-culture water for the entire under-12 cohort. Mostly positive associations.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Riley Keough American actress and film director
Spelling variants
- Reilly
- Reily
- Rylee
- Ryleigh
- Rylie
Names with the same feeling
See Riley from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Riley mean?
- From the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Raghallaigh, meaning 'descendant of Raghallach.' The root Raghallach possibly traces to an Old Irish word for courageous or valiant.
- What does Riley mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Riley means "Courageous, valiant." The Riley surname spread with Irish emigration to America in the 19th century. The shift to a given name happened in the 20th century, leaning masculine until the 1990s when it flipped to majority feminine in US usage (though the name stays unisex in practice). Inside Out (2015) gave the name a generation of Pixar-anchored girls, and the 2024 sequel renewed it. Currently US top fifty for both sexes, slightly more often feminine. Variant spellings (Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie) have their own popularity tracks.
- How do you pronounce Riley?
- Riley is pronounced ˈraɪ.li. Say it as RIE-lee, with the stress on the "rie" syllable.
- How do you spell Riley?
- The standard spelling is Riley. Common spelling variants include Reilly, Reily, Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie.
- Is Riley a boy or girl name?
- Riley is used for both boys and girls.
- How popular is the name Riley?
- Riley ranked #48 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.