Skip to content
Names Starting With R
UnisexIrish#19 in 2025

Riley

Riley is a unisex name of Irish origin meaning “Rye clearing or courageous.” It ranked #19 in the United States in 2025.

pronunciation

RY-lee

meaning & origin

The name Riley means “Rye clearing or courageous.” It comes from the Irish language tradition.

From the Irish surname Ó Raghailligh, possibly meaning courageous. It is also interpreted as an Old English place name meaning rye clearing. One of the most consistently popular unisex names in the US in recent decades.

popularity over time

#22
2020
#21
2021
#20
2022
#20
2023
#19
2024
YearRank
2024#19
2023#20
2022#20
2021#21
2020#22

Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset

famous people named Riley

  • Riley Keough
  • Riley Curry

names similar to Riley

Trending in:gender neutraljoybait

love Riley? get 10 more names curated for your family.

Popularity rankings and meanings are just the starting point. Our AI consultant finds names that match your heritage, style, and what matters most to you.

Completely free. No credit card required.

start free consultation