Rylee

♀ Girl

Pronounced RY-lee /ˈraɪ.li/High

Meaning: Courageous; valiant — from Irish surname Riley/O'Reilly, from Gaelic raghallach (courageous)Medium

In 30 seconds: A variant spelling of Riley, from Irish Gaelic meaning 'courageous,' Rylee has become a popular girls' name in the United States, part of the broad -lee surnames-for-girls wave.

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Origin HighIrish Gaelic, Old English

MeaningCourageous; valiant — from Irish surname Riley/O'Reilly, from Gaelic raghallach (courageous)

U.S. rank (2025)#137 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births2,118 girls (0.13% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2010

Total births (all-time)≈ 68,987

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

Rylee is a spelling variant of Riley, an Irish surname from Ó Raghallaigh, meaning 'descendant of Raghallach,' which may mean 'courageous' or 'valiant.' It can also connect to an Old English place name meaning 'rye clearing.'

Riley/Rylee has become one of the most popular girls' names in the United States in the 21st century, part of the broader Irish-surname-for-girls trend alongside names like Kennedy and Quinn.

Did you know? 'Living the life of Riley' is an old American idiom meaning to live a comfortable, carefree life — evidence of how deeply the Riley name embedded itself in American vernacular culture.

Variations

RileyRyleighRiely

Nicknames

RyLee

Famous Bearers

★Rylee Arnold (b. 2005)
American Latin ballroom dancer and professional on Dancing with the Stars, placing third at the World DanceSport Championships in Paris

If you like Rylee…

Hailey— two-syllable -lee surname name with the same modern American girls' popularity

Bailey— Old French surname name for girls with the same breezy two-syllable feel

Kaylee— -lee ending modern name with the same American chart-topping trajectory

Kinsley— modern -ley surname name with the same country-chic American energy

Explore names like Rylee

By meaningBrave / Courage

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Rylee mean?

Rylee is a variant of Riley, from the Irish surname Ó Raghallaigh, meaning 'courageous' or 'valiant.'

How do you pronounce Rylee?

It is said RY-lee /ˈraɪ.li/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Rylee a boy or girl name?

Rylee is used predominantly as a girl's name.

How popular is Rylee?

Rylee has been climbing the U.S. charts and now ranks among the top 200 girls' names.