Jesse vs Riley
Jesse 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 2014, Jesse was ranked #93 and Riley #39 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2017, Jesse was ranked #99 and Riley #41 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #54 and Riley #80 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #290 and Riley #85 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #102 and Riley #108 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Jesse was ranked #896 and Riley #134 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jesse was ranked #141 and Riley #188 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #4843 and Riley #175 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Jesse was ranked #363 and Riley #246 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Jesse and Riley over time
Jesse and Riley appear together in 6 published lists, across 134 years of shared records. Riley held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Jesse in 0.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 3 of the lists they share.
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 South Wales, Australia · Boys, Riley moved into the top 50 at #36 in 2000 as Jesse fell out of it to #51, having been #49 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Riley moved ahead of Jesse in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #49 and #56 the year before became #51 and #36.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jesse and Riley changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 2002 and 2025, ending at #141 and #188.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Riley in 21.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #54 in 2024, Riley #8 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #54, Riley #80.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Riley in 23.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #946 in 1997, Riley #175 in 2024.
The order changed in 2002: Riley moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #1305 and #1439; by 2002 that had become #1104 and #822.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #4843, Riley #175.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 2002–2025
Jesse held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Riley in 15.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #133 in 2023, Riley #101 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jesse #141, Riley #188.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys19 shared years, 1996–2014
Jesse held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Riley in 15.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #30 in 1996, Riley #6 in 2008.
The order changed in 2000: Riley moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #49 and #56; by 2000 that had become #51 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Jesse #93, Riley #39.
Northern Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 2005–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Riley in 18.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #102 in 2024, Riley #9 in 2012.
The order changed in 2024: Jesse moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #121 and #92; by 2024 that had become #102 and #108.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #102, Riley #108.
New Zealand · Boys15 shared years, 2000–2017
Jesse held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Riley in 13.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #41 in 2000, Riley #6 in 2008.
The order changed in 2002: Riley moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #59 and #62; by 2002 that had become #62 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Jesse #99, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Jesse | 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 #141 (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); Jesse does not have one recorded yet.
- Jesse and Riley both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Riley; Jesse 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
Jesse
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1981–2017
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1981–2017).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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