Jackson vs Riley
Jackson 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 Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Jackson was ranked #41 and Riley #44 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Jackson was ranked #90 and Riley #66 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jackson was ranked #131 and Riley #80 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jackson was ranked #130 and Riley #85 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jackson was ranked #154 and Riley #108 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jackson was ranked #198 and Riley #188 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Jackson and Riley over time
Jackson and Riley appear together in 5 published lists, across 128 years of shared records. Riley held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jackson in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 4 of those lists, Jackson in 1. 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 2000, Riley moved ahead of Jackson in England and Wales · Boys — #244 and #297 the year before became #298 and #194.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jackson and Riley changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #90 and #66.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jackson and Riley averaged 13.8 places apart, ending at #90 and #66.
- Longest-running competitions
Jackson and Riley were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #90 and #66.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Jackson #27 in 2007, Riley #6 in 2008.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jackson held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Riley in 16.
Highest recorded here: Jackson #27 in 2007, Riley #6 in 2008.
The order changed in 2023: Riley moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #55 and #58; by 2023 that had become #72 and #68.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jackson #90, Riley #66.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jackson held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Riley in 25.
Highest recorded here: Jackson #74 in 2017, Riley #8 in 2012.
The order changed in 2000: Riley moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #244 and #297; by 2000 that had become #298 and #194.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jackson #131, Riley #80.
New Zealand · Boys24 shared years, 2000–2023
Jackson held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Riley in 9.
Highest recorded here: Jackson #21 in 2014, Riley #6 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Jackson #41, Riley #44.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 2001–2024
Jackson held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Riley in 20.
Highest recorded here: Jackson #68 in 2016, Riley #9 in 2012.
The order changed in 2004: Riley moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #149 and #263; by 2004 that had become #192 and #192.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jackson #154, Riley #108.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 2005–2025
Jackson held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Riley in 14.
Highest recorded here: Jackson #99 in 2017, Riley #101 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jackson #198, Riley #188.
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 | Jackson | 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #90 (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); Jackson does not have one recorded yet.
- Jackson and Riley both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Riley; Jackson 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
Jackson
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #89 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1990 — 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: #21 among boys in New Zealand, in 2014 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
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