Felicia vs Riley
Felicia 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Felicia was ranked #727 and Riley #143 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Felicia was ranked #2440 and Riley #186 among girls in England and Wales.
Felicia and Riley over time
Felicia and Riley appear together in 1 published list, across 30 years of shared records. Riley held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Felicia in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Felicia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Riley in none. 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Felicia and Riley were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2440 and #186.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Felicia held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Riley in 24.
Highest recorded here: Felicia #1063 in 2001, Riley #175 in 2024.
The order changed in 2002: Riley moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #1063 and #1439; by 2002 that had become #1928 and #822.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Felicia #2440, Riley #186.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Riley
Pairs where Riley shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Amelia vs Riley
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Amelia #1 in 2019, Riley #29 in 2021.
Amelia · Riley · 17 shared years, 2004–2023 · Peaked in the same years
- Harry vs Riley
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Harry #1 in 2011, Riley #8 in 2012.
Harry · Riley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Isla vs Riley
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2020, Riley #29 in 2021.
Isla · Riley · 17 shared years, 2004–2023 · Peaked in the same years
- Liam vs Riley
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Liam #1 in 2010, Riley #6 in 2008.
Liam · Riley · 24 shared years, 2000–2023 · Peaked in the same years
Side by side
| Field | Felicia | Riley |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2440 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #66 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 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); Felicia does not have one recorded yet.
- Felicia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Riley.
- A meaning is recorded for Riley; Felicia doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Felicia
Popularity journey
First recorded1981
First recorded at #625 among girls in Norway in 1981 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1981–2024
Highest recorded position: #210 among girls in Norway, in 2008 (recorded 1981–2024).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #186 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls