Jake vs Riley
Jake and Riley compared 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 2017, Jake was ranked #96 and Riley #41 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2020, Jake was ranked #87 and Riley #53 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Jake was ranked #235 and Riley #83 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jake was ranked #84 and Riley #108 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jake was ranked #165 and Riley #85 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jake was ranked #95 and Riley #188 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Jake and Riley over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Jake and Riley over time
Jake and Riley appear together in 5 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Jake held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Riley in 2.
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.
Jake reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Riley 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Riley moved into the top 50 at #33 in 2003 as Jake fell out of it to #53, having been #45 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2016, Riley moved ahead of Jake in England and Wales · Boys — #34 and #40 the year before became #45 and #40.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jake and Riley averaged 23.4 places apart, ending at #87 and #53.
- Longest-running competitions
Jake and Riley were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #235 and #83.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jake held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Riley in 14.
Highest recorded here: Jake #15 in 2006, Riley #8 in 2012.
The order changed in 2016: Riley moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #34 and #40; by 2016 that had become #45 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jake #235, Riley #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys24 shared years, 1996–2020
Jake held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Riley in 18.
Highest recorded here: Jake #8 in 1996, Riley #6 in 2008.
The order changed in 2002: Riley moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #24 and #31; by 2002 that had become #26 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Jake #87, Riley #53.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 2001–2024
Jake held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Riley in 1.
Highest recorded here: Jake #10 in 2015, Riley #9 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jake #84, Riley #108.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 2002–2025
Jake held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Riley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jake #25 in 2015, Riley #101 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jake #95, Riley #188.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 2000–2017
Jake held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Riley in 15.
Highest recorded here: Jake #44 in 2005, Riley #6 in 2008.
The order changed in 2003: Riley moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #45 and #55; by 2003 that had become #53 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Jake #96, Riley #41.
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 Jake
Pairs where Jake shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Craig vs Jake
In 1997 they stood at #68 and #64 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2015 they were #415 and #10.
Craig · Jake · 17 shared years, 1997–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jake vs Steven
In 1997 they stood at #64 and #59 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2022 they were #44 and #414.
Jake · Steven · 24 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jake vs Brendan
In 1997 they stood at #64 and #73 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #84 and #404.
Jake · Brendan · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jake vs Gary
In 1997 they stood at #64 and #57 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2022 they were #44 and #352.
Jake · Gary · 20 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
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
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Adam · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
Charlie · Oisin · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Charlie · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Liam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #11 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Liam · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Jake | Riley |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A medieval variant of Jack, also sometimes used as a short form of Jacob. | 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 | English, medieval variant | Irish/English (surname origin), dual tradition |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒeɪk/ | /ˈɹaɪ.li/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #95 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #66 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jake is recorded with a English, medieval variant origin, while Riley is recorded with a Irish/English (surname origin), dual tradition origin.
- Jake and Riley both have 2 syllables.
- Jake's recorded meaning differs from Riley's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Jake
Popularity journey
First recorded1983
First recorded at #330 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1983 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1986–2020
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1994 (recorded 1986–2020).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #235 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #186 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls