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Home › Baby Names Directory › Ridley

Ridley

♀ Girl

Pronounced RIHD-lee /ˈɹɪd.li/Medium

Meaning: Reed clearingMedium

In 30 seconds: Ridley is an English name meaning 'reed clearing,' a place-name and surname now used for girls.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningReed clearing
U.S. rank (2025)#2013 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births95 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2018
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,364

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201820022025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

The meaning, 'reed clearing,' describes open ground among reeds, the kind of landscape that produced many English place names and surnames. Ridley moved from that geographic sense into use as a given name. Director Ridley Scott is among the people who have carried it.

The familiar -ley ending links Ridley by sound to a broad set of clearing and meadow names. As a name now given to girls, it keeps an earthy, place-rooted feel.

Did you know? Ridley likely reached first-name use through a surname or place-name route, which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Ridley — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Ridley Scott (1937–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Ridley…

Ridge— Shares the same Ri- opening and rugged, landscape-based feel as Ridley.
Rainey— shares the -ey ending
Ramsey— a fellow English choice
Whitney— a fellow English choice
Ripley— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Ridley

By themeenglishunisexnaturesurname-stylemodern-ending

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ridley mean?

Ridley is usually explained as meaning 'reed clearing' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Ridley?

It's commonly said RIHD-lee /ˈɹɪd.li/.

Is Ridley a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Ridley is used as a girl name.

How popular is Ridley?

In 2024, Ridley ranked #1930 in the U.S. for girls, with 103 births recorded.

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