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Riley
Pronounced RY-lee /ˈraɪli/High
Meaning: Courageous; from Irish Ó Raghallaigh (descendant of Raghallach)High
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
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
Riley derives from the Irish surname Ó Raghallaigh, anglicized as O'Reilly or Riley, meaning 'descendant of Raghallach.' The personal name Raghallach is thought to derive from Gaelic elements meaning courageous or valiant. Like many Irish surnames, Riley crossed to America with 19th-century immigration waves and began converting to a given name in the 20th century.
Riley was initially used as a boys' given name but crossed to girls in significant numbers during the 1990s. By the 2000s it was climbing the girls' charts rapidly, entering the top 25 by the mid-2010s. It is now one of the most familiar crossover names in the U.S., though it retains modest male use as well.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★Riley Keough (1989–)American actress and granddaughter of Elvis Presley.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Riley mean?
Riley is an Irish surname-name meaning 'courageous' or 'valiant,' from the Gaelic Ó Raghallaigh.
How do you pronounce Riley?
It's said RY-lee /ˈraɪli/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Riley a boy or girl name?
Riley is now used predominantly for girls in the U.S., though it retains some male use.
How popular is Riley?
Riley has ranked in the U.S. top 25 girls' names since the mid-2010s.