How to say it
RY · lee
ˈraɪ.li
Feminine
Rylee
Courageous, valiant
What it means
Modern American feminine respelling of Riley, from the Irish surname Ó Raghallaigh ('descendant of Raghallach,' 'courageous, valiant'). The -lee spelling tilts modern feminine; the Riley spelling stays unisex.
Rylee is a modern American feminine respelling of Riley, which traces back to the Irish surname Ó Raghallaigh (anglicized as O'Reilly), 'descendant of Raghallach,' from a personal name often glossed as 'courageous, valiant.' The -lee spelling, alongside Rylie and Ryley, tilts the name modern feminine; the original Riley spelling stays firmly unisex. As a US given name Rylee surged with the broader -lee/-leigh feminine naming wave (alongside Hadley, Kinsley, Presley, Everleigh) and entered the top 200 in 2014. Common short: Ry.
How to spell Rylee
The standard spelling is Rylee. Common variants include Riley, Rylie, Ryleigh, but Rylee is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #97 in 2021, currently #137 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed August 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Riley (traditional unisex), Rylee (-lee feminine), Rylie (-lie feminine), and Ryleigh (-leigh feminine) are all the same Irish name; spelling diversity itself feminizes the name.
Who's worn it
- Rylee Arnold American dancer, Dancing with the Stars (the modern -lee feminine spelling)
Spelling variants
- Riley
- Rylie
- Ryleigh
Names with the same feeling
See Rylee from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Rylee mean?
- Modern American feminine respelling of Riley, from the Irish surname Ó Raghallaigh ('descendant of Raghallach,' 'courageous, valiant'). The -lee spelling tilts modern feminine; the Riley spelling stays unisex.
- What does Rylee mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Rylee means "Courageous, valiant." Rylee is a modern American feminine respelling of Riley, which traces back to the Irish surname Ó Raghallaigh (anglicized as O'Reilly), 'descendant of Raghallach,' from a personal name often glossed as 'courageous, valiant.' The -lee spelling, alongside Rylie and Ryley, tilts the name modern feminine; the original Riley spelling stays firmly unisex. As a US given name Rylee surged with the broader -lee/-leigh feminine naming wave (alongside Hadley, Kinsley, Presley, Everleigh) and entered the top 200 in 2014. Common short: Ry.
- How do you pronounce Rylee?
- Rylee is pronounced ˈraɪ.li. Say it as RY-lee, with the stress on the "ry" syllable.
- How do you spell Rylee?
- The standard spelling is Rylee. Common spelling variants include Riley, Rylie, Ryleigh.
- Is Rylee a boy or girl name?
- Rylee is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Rylee?
- Rylee ranked #137 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.