Riley
Riley is a boy's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Courageous or valiant.
Origin and history
Riley is derived from the Irish surname Ó Raghallaigh, meaning courageous or valiant. Historically used primarily as a masculine given name, it transitioned into a popular unisex name in the United States during the late 20th century. It remains a steady choice for boys, consistently placing in the top 250 U.S. male names in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
105,025 babies in the United States have been named Riley since 1880. It ranks #303 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #228.
States where it is most popular
- CA (9 %)
- TX (7.1 %)
- FL (4.7 %)
- WA (3.9 %)
- MN (3.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 458 |
| 1890-1900 | 386 |
| 1900-1910 | 383 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,210 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,668 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,470 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,663 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,424 |
| 1960-1970 | 938 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,090 |
| 1980-1990 | 3,436 |
| 1990-2000 | 18,841 |
| 2000-2010 | 39,622 |
| 2010-2019 | 23,145 |
| 2020-2029 | 9,291 |
Famous people named Riley
- Riley Cooper: Athlete, Football Player
- Riley Smith: Actor
- Riley Herbst: Race Car Driver
Nicknames
Rye
Fun facts
- Riley originated as an Anglicized form of the Old Gaelic surname Ó Raghallaigh, meaning descendant of Raghallach.
- The name is famous for the phrase 'living the life of Riley,' an idiom signifying a comfortable or carefree existence.