Blake vs Riley
Blake and Rileycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Blake was ranked #85 and Riley #35 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Blake was ranked #41 and Riley #85 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Blake was ranked #58 and Riley #44 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Blake was ranked #104 and Riley #80 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Blake was ranked #144 and Riley #108 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Blake was ranked #184 and Riley #108 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Blake was ranked #156 and Riley #188 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Blake was ranked #432 and Riley #175 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Blake was ranked #288 and Riley #192 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Blake was ranked #718 and Riley #266 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Blake and Riley over time
Blake and Riley appear together in 7 published lists, across 148 years of shared records. Riley held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Blake in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Riley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Blake in 2. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2001, Riley moved ahead of Blake in England and Wales · Boys — #160 and #194 the year before became #187 and #147.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Blake and Riley changed places 7 times in New Zealand · Boys between 2000 and 2023, ending at #58 and #44.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Blake and Riley averaged 26.4 places apart, ending at #85 and #35.
- Mirrored each other
Over 24 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Riley rose about as far as Blake fell — from #38 and #98 in 2000 to #58 and #44 in 2023.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Blake #382 in 2022, Riley #175 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Blake held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Riley in 24.
Highest recorded here: Blake #56 in 2013, Riley #8 in 2012.
The order changed in 2001: Riley moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #160 and #194; by 2001 that had become #187 and #147.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Blake #104, Riley #80.
New Zealand · Boys24 shared years, 2000–2023
Blake held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Riley in 11.
Highest recorded here: Blake #14 in 2012, Riley #6 in 2008.
The order changed in 2022: Riley moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #48 and #61; by 2022 that had become #70 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Blake #58, Riley #44.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 2001–2024
Blake held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Riley in 16.
Highest recorded here: Blake #62 in 2013, Riley #9 in 2012.
The order changed in 2023: Riley moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #96 and #98; by 2023 that had become #113 and #92.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Blake #144, Riley #108.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 2002–2025
Blake held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Riley in 6.
Highest recorded here: Blake #94 in 2022, Riley #101 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Blake #156, Riley #188.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1996–2016
Blake held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Riley in 15.
Highest recorded here: Blake #25 in 1996, Riley #6 in 2008.
The order changed in 2002: Riley moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #29 and #31; by 2002 that had become #27 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Blake #85, Riley #35.
England and Wales · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2024
Blake held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Riley in 18.
Highest recorded here: Blake #382 in 2022, Riley #175 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Blake #432, Riley #175.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 2012–2025
Blake held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Riley in 10.
Highest recorded here: Blake #316 in 2023, Riley #134 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Blake #718, Riley #266.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Blake | Riley |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An Irish surname (variant of Reilly) or an English surname meaning 'rye clearing' — its use as a first name is relatively modern, dating from the 1980s-90s. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish/English (surname origin), dual tradition |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɹaɪ.li/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #156 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #66 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Riley has a recorded origin (Irish/English (surname origin), dual tradition); Blake does not have one recorded yet.
- Blake and Riley both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Riley; Blake doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Blake
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #82 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #14 among boys in New Zealand, in 2012 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Riley
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #1755 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls