Rylei

♀ Girl

Pronounced RY-lee /ˈraɪ.liː/High

Meaning: Variant spelling of Riley, from Old English Ryge-leah meaning 'rye clearing' or 'rye meadow'; also linked to Irish Gaelic Raghallaigh meaning 'courageous'High

In 30 seconds: Rylei is a modern phonetic spelling of Riley, meaning rye clearing in Old English or courageous in Irish Gaelic. A popular unisex name, Riley and its variants have been strongly favored for girls in the U.S. since the 2000s.

💕 Browse more names

Origin HighOld English, Irish Gaelic

MeaningVariant spelling of Riley, from Old English Ryge-leah meaning 'rye clearing' or 'rye meadow'; also linked to Irish Gaelic Raghallaigh meaning 'courageous'

U.S. rank (2025)#4532 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births31 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2018

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,308

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

Rylei is a creative respelling of Riley, which derives from two possible roots: the Old English place name Ryge-leah, meaning 'rye clearing' or 'rye meadow', a habitational surname; and the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Raghallaigh, anglicized as Riley or Reilly, meaning 'descendant of Raghallach', a name possibly meaning 'courageous'. Both sources contributed to Riley's widespread use in England and Ireland as a surname before it became a first name.

Riley became one of the most popular American girls names of the 21st century, entering the top 10 in the 2010s. Phonetic variants like Rylee, Ryley, Rylie, and Rylei followed, offering parents slightly distinctive spellings of the same sound. The spelling Rylei is among the less common variants, giving a daughter a unique look while keeping the familiar sound.

Did you know? The name Riley gained enormous visibility through the Disney Pixar film Inside Out (2015), in which the main character is a girl named Riley — perfectly timed with the name's surge in popularity among girls.

Overall data confidence 83%

Behind the Name — Riley — Old English rye clearing and Irish Gaelic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — Riley and variants popularity data

Variations

RileyRyleeRyleyRylieRyleigh

Nicknames

RyLee

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Rylei…

Rylee— the most common alternate spelling of the same name

Rylie

Ryleigh

Kylie— similar sound pattern, also hugely popular for girls in the same era

Explore names like Rylei

By thememodern american unisex two-syllable irish variant-spelling old-english popular

By meaningBrave / Courage Earth / Nature

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Rylei mean?

Rylei means rye clearing or rye meadow in Old English, or courageous from Irish Gaelic Ó Raghallaigh — it is a variant of Riley.

How do you pronounce Rylei?

It is pronounced RY-lee, with two syllables and stress on the first, the same as Riley.

Is Rylei a boy or girl name?

Rylei is used as a girl's name; the root name Riley is unisex but is now predominantly chosen for girls in the U.S.

How popular is Rylei?

Rylei is a rare spelling. The name Riley has been popular among girls in the U.S., and variants like Rylee are also common.