Riley

maleIrish/English (surname origin), dual tradition

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: Irish/English (surname origin), dual tradition

Official popularity data is available for 6 regions, from 1996 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #6 in New Zealand in 2008. See regions.

Riley: Recorded every year since 1996, it reached #6 in 2008, and it was still inside the top 100 in 2025.

6registrars recorded it
222times a registrar ranked it
30years from first to last
#6highest recorded position
36groupings it qualifies for
22names it appears alongside

What stands out in Riley's record

Ranked inside the top 10 by 4 registrars. Names by top-10 reach
Held a top-100 place for 30 years running. Names by top-100 run
England and Wales registered 4,825 births with the name in 2012, its largest count from any one registrar. Names by yearly birth count
Held at least one birth in every 2,000 for 22 years. Names by sustained share

RY-lee/ˈɹaɪ.li/

Compare Riley Run Name Checker on Riley

Data Confidence

Evidence: ModerateCompleteness: SubstantialEditorial review: 2026-07-21

Confidence in the evidencebehind this name's data — never a rating of the name itself, and never affected by how well it matches your preferences. How this is assessed

Because: backed by officially or academically authoritative sources, recently verified, popularity data covers multiple regions.

Source authority

Averaged from the real per-claim source-authority assessments already computed for this name's meaning/origin/pronunciation/popularity evidence.

Independent corroboration

Averaged from the real per-claim supporting-source counts already computed for this name's evidence.

See full evidence assessment (8 dimensions, 1 not yet tracked)

Source agreement

No recorded source disagreement for this name's meanings or origins.

Recency

Calculated from how long ago this record was last verified (2026-07-21), against a 270-day staleness threshold.

Geographic relevance

Calculated from the number of geographies with official popularity data (6) — broader official coverage means the evidence base is relevant to more of where the name is actually used.

Completeness

Calculated from how many of the expected data sections (variants, similar names, popularity, notable usage, IPA pronunciation) are actually populated for this name.

Direct observation vs. inference

Averaged from the real per-claim direct-observation-vs-inference ratios already computed for this name's evidence.

Identity & variant resolution quality

Cross-source identity and variant resolution requires HEKNO Knowledge, which isn't connected yet.

Name Characteristics

How these are calculated

Descriptive attributes of the name itself — not a confidence measurement, and not an overall quality score. Namewise doesn't approve or disapprove of names.

Pronunciation clarity

Editorial judgement of how consistently this name is pronounced correctly on first read, mapped from an easy/moderate/variable rating to a number. Describes the name — not a measure of evidence confidence.

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling: shorter names with fewer irregular letter clusters score higher. A disclosed formula, not an editorial opinion — and not a confidence measurement.

Recorded regional spread

Derived from how many geographies' official statistics record this name. It measures where the name is registered, not how well-known it feels to people living there.

International spread

Derived from the same official statistical coverage, scaled to reflect how widely the name crosses national datasets. Not a measure of how easily it is understood in another language.

Trend stability

Derived from the name's traditional/modern classification and its current popularity trend direction.

Overview

Origin: Irish/English (surname origin), dual tradition
Meaning: 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.
Pronunciation: RY-lee
Syllables: 2
Common nicknames: None recorded
Classification: Traditional & modern
Gender usage: male
Language family: Irish/English (surname origin), dual tradition

Popularity

Region

Rising

among girls in England and Wales · 1996–2025

View as table

England and Wales · Girls rank by year
Year	Rank
1996	#1755
1997	#1450
1998	#1823
1999	#1805
2000	#1594
2001	#1439
2002	#822
2003	#799
2004	#772
2005	#680
2006	#717
2007	#623
2008	#595
2009	#586
2010	#830
2011	#692
2012	#1058
2013	#1075
2014	#763
2015	#539
2016	#301
2017	#260
2018	#270
2019	#243
2020	#229
2021	#207
2022	#219
2023	#221
2024	#175
2025	#186

VerifiedSource: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales.Confidence: high.

See all England and Wales names · Source: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales

What the data shows

RisingEngland and Wales · Girls

Recorded in official data among girls in England and Wales in every year from 1996 to 2025.

In 2025: #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, #186 among girls in England and Wales, #266 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Official data from 6 national registrars across 6 regions, 1996–2025 · Office for National Statistics. Data sources

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
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #186 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls

Riley appears in 10 of the published lists Namewise holds. The longest record is England and Wales · Boys, which has ranked it in 30 years beginning in 1996, and has registered 38,605 births with the name.

Riley across 10 official records

Each registrar publishes its own list, so these figures are read down a row, never across one. A position in one country is not comparable with a position in another, and Namewise never combines them into a single ranking. The birth counts do not compare across rows either, for a different reason: England and Wales registers roughly thirty times as many births a year as Northern Ireland, so a larger total says which registrar recorded it as much as how widely the name was given.

Riley's first, highest and most recent recorded position in each official list, with the number of births each registrar registered with the name and its largest single year
Published list	First recorded	Highest	Most recent	Years recorded	Births registered	Most in one year
England and Wales · Boys	#535 (1996)	#8 (2012)	#83 (2025)	30 of 30	38,605 (1996–2025)	4,825 (2012)
England and Wales · Girls	#1755 (1996)	#175 (2024)	#186 (2025)	30 of 30	2,891 (1996–2025)	280 (2024)
New South Wales, Australia · Boys	#87 (1996)	#6 (2008)	#66 (2025)	30 of 30	7,816 (1996–2025)	575 (2007)
New Zealand · Boys	#98 (2000)	#6 (2008)	#44 (2023)	24 of 24	3,274 (2000–2023)	328 (2008)
Northern Ireland · Boys	#280 (2001)	#9 (2012)	#108 (2024)	24 of 24	1,132 (2001–2024)	184 (2012)
Republic of Ireland · Boys	#393 (2002)	#101 (2012)	#188 (2025)	23 of 24	824 (2002–2025)	75 (2012)
Northern Ireland · Girls	#331 (2003)	#174 (2017)	#192 (2024)	19 of 22	124 (2003–2024)	12 (2017)
New Zealand · Girls	#71 (2004)	#29 (2021)	#41 (2023)	17 of 20	1,194 (2004–2023)	104 (2021)
Republic of Ireland · Girls	#665 (2008)	#134 (2018)	#266 (2025)	18 of 18	357 (2008–2025)	41 (2018)
New South Wales, Australia · Girls	#82 (2019)	#77 (2022)	#91 (2025)	5 of 7	423 (2019–2025)	89 (2022)

Riley by decade in England and Wales · Boys

Births registered with the name in each decade of this one list, with the number of years the list covers in that decade. Bars are scaled on births a year, which is the figure that compares between decades — a decade the list only partly covers has a smaller total without being a quieter decade. Figures belong to this registrar alone and do not carry to another.

Births registered with Riley in England and Wales · Boys, by decade, with years covered and the average per year
Decade	Births registered	Years covered	A year
1990s	236	4 of 10	59
2000s	10,080	10 of 10	1,008
2010sbusiest	23,967	10 of 10	2,397
2020s	4,322	6 of 10	720

Across England and Wales · Boys, the 2010s were its busiest decade, averaging 2,397 births a year.

Its sharpest single-year move came between 2012 and 2013, when recorded births fell by 1,703, from 4,825 to 3,122.

See the names England and Waleshas recorded the most births with →

Riley appears in

Groupings this name qualifies for under their own stated rules, from the same official statistics shown above.

What the record shows

Recorded by 6 registrars between 1996 and 2025, ranked in 30 years of that period.

Its highest recorded position is #6, first reached in 2008.

It held a top-100 place in 30 years, 30 of them consecutive.

Its largest count from any one registrar is 4,825 births, registered in England and Wales in 2012.

4 registrars ranked it inside their own top 10.

5 registrars publish it in more than one category list, holding a place in each for at least five years — an observation about those lists rather than about the name.

A second registrar first ranked it in 1996, and 28 years separate the first registrar to record it from the last.

Every figure here is counted from the seven official registrars Namewise holds. A position is only ever a place within the list that published it, and a record that thins or stops is a fact about what registrars printed — never about how many children received the name.

Riley was ranked #6 in New South Wales, Australia · Boys in 2008. These are the names immediately either side of it on that published list — a fact about the registrar's own output, not a similarity judgement.

Where to go next

Records with a comparable body of evidence, so the catalogue can be read outward from this one. Each group states the rule it was selected by.

Next in the catalogue

The records either side of this one alphabetically.

Rikki · #324, 24y
Rilee · #1981, 12y
Riley-James · #637, 20y
Riley-Jay · #682, 19y

A comparable record

Records held by the same 6 registrars, over a similar number of ranked years, whose highest position is closest to this one. A similar body of evidence — never a claim that the names themselves are alike.

Elijah · #7, 30y
Evie · #7, 30y
Hudson · #7, 30y
Hunter · #5, 30y

Also first recorded in the 1990s

Records whose earliest ranking in Namewise's registrar data also falls between 1990 and 1999.

Elijah · #7, 30y
Evie · #7, 30y
Hudson · #7, 30y
Hunter · #5, 30y

Comparisons involving Riley

Existing comparison pages where Riley and another name were ranked in the same published list, in the same years, on the same scale. Each has its own evidence; none of them says the names are alike.

Longest shared records

Names ranked alongside Riley in the same published list across at least 25 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
See the 2012 England and Wales ranking
Luke vs Riley
In 2007, Riley moved ahead of Luke in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #17 and #21 the year before became #22 and #7.
Luke · Riley · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 2007 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Matthew vs Riley
In 2007, Riley moved ahead of Matthew in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #14 and #21 the year before became #17 and #7.
Matthew · Riley · 28 shared years, 1996–2023 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 2007 New South Wales, Australia ranking

Closest long-running positions

Names that stayed close to Riley within one registrar's list over many years. A gap measured inside that list, never across registrars.

Riley vs Blake
Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Riley and Blake averaged 12.4 places apart, ending at #44 and #58.
Riley · Blake · 24 shared years, 2000–2023 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2023 New Zealand ranking
Riley vs Jayden
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Riley and Jayden averaged 12.4 places apart, ending at #71 and #63.
Riley · Jayden · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2024 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Riley vs Isaac
Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Riley and Isaac averaged 13.0 places apart, ending at #44 and #46.
Riley · Isaac · 24 shared years, 2000–2023 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2023 New Zealand ranking

Order changes

Pairs where Riley and another name exchanged position in a published list, taken as the final meaningful change.

Nicholas vs Riley
In 2007, Riley moved ahead of Nicholas in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #20 and #21 the year before became #23 and #7.
Nicholas · Riley · 28 shared years, 1996–2024 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 2007 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Riley vs Rhys
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Riley moved into the top 50 at #18 in 2011 as Rhys fell out of it to #66, having been #39 the year before.
Riley · Rhys · 24 shared years, 2001–2024 · One took the other's place near the top
See the 2011 Northern Ireland ranking
Riley vs Ollie
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Ollie moved into the top 50 at #25 in 2015 as Riley fell out of it to #59, having been #31 the year before.
Riley · Ollie · 17 shared years, 2008–2024 · One took the other's place near the top
See the 2015 Northern Ireland ranking

Compared inside New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs involving Riley measured in New South Wales, Australia's own published lists — the registrar that recorded Riley at its highest position.

Riley vs Jesse
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.
Riley · Jesse · 19 shared years, 1996–2014 · One took the other's place near the top
See the 2000 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Riley vs Timothy
In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Riley moved into the top 50 at #36 in 2000 as Timothy fell out of it to #54, having been #44 the year before.
Riley · Timothy · 10 shared years, 1996–2005 · One took the other's place near the top
See the 2000 New South Wales, Australia ranking

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Riley and the names beside it

Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale, in the same year, by the same registrar — so these are positions that genuinely passed each other, not a similarity judgement. Drawn from the 2,577 names with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon), so a name outside that set could have passed Riley without appearing here.

Riley moved ahead of

Cheryl
In 2000 they stood at #1594 and #1313 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2001 that had become #1439 and #3262.
Geraldine
In 2001 they stood at #1439 and #1170 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2002 that had become #822 and #2301.
Kristy
In 2001 they stood at #1439 and #1439 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2002 that had become #822 and #2301.
Janice
In 1996 they stood at #1755 and #1364 in England and Wales · Girls; by 1997 that had become #1450 and #2738.

Moved ahead of Riley

Harper
In 2011 they stood at #692 and #858 in England and Wales · Girls; by 2012 that had become #1058 and #284.
Thea
In 2012 they stood at #330 and #451 in Northern Ireland · Girls; by 2013 that had become #440 and #178.
Alfie
In 2003 they stood at #393 and #451 in Republic of Ireland · Boys; by 2004 that had become #506 and #299.
Jayden Compare
In 2003 they stood at #393 and #451 in Republic of Ireland · Boys; by 2004 that had become #506 and #299.

Moved the opposite way to Riley

Aaron Compare
Between 1996 and 2025 in England and Wales · Boys, Riley went from #535 to #83 while Aaron went from #33 to #180.
Abigail Compare
Between 1996 and 2025 in England and Wales · Girls, Riley went from #1755 to #186 while Abigail went from #21 to #171.
Adam
Between 1996 and 2025 in England and Wales · Boys, Riley went from #535 to #83 while Adam went from #16 to #26.
Aimee
Between 1996 and 2025 in England and Wales · Girls, Riley went from #1755 to #186 while Aimee went from #70 to #1809.

Moved the same way as Riley

Ada
Between 1996 and 2025 in England and Wales · Girls, Riley went from #1755 to #186 and Ada from #2683 to #40.
Albie
Between 1996 and 2025 in England and Wales · Boys, Riley went from #535 to #83 and Albie from #853 to #21.
Alfie
Between 1996 and 2025 in England and Wales · Boys, Riley went from #535 to #83 and Alfie from #119 to #16.
Alfred
Between 1996 and 2025 in England and Wales · Boys, Riley went from #535 to #83 and Alfred from #218 to #76.

Meaning & Origin

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.

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Irish/English (surname origin), dual tradition

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Other names with a researched meaning and origin →

Where Riley is officially recorded

6 official registrars have recorded Riley, between 1996 and 2025. Each registrar publishes for its own population on its own methodology, so the positions below are each one country's own ranking and are not comparable with one another.

Registrar	Recorded	Years	Its own highest position
New South Wales, Australia	1996–2025	30	#6 in 2008
England and Wales	1996–2025	30	#8 in 2012
New Zealand	2000–2023	24	#6 in 2008
Northern Ireland	2001–2024	24	#9 in 2012
Republic of Ireland	2002–2025	23	#101 in 2012
Scotland	2024	1	#85 in 2024

Its high point came 16 years earlier in New South Wales, Australia (2008) than in Scotland (2024).

Variants

No spelling variants or nicknames recorded yet.

Similar Names

No similar names recorded yet for this name.

Similarity is a demonstration score — see methodology.

Spelling

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling — see Name Characteristics above.

No commonly used alternate spellings recorded.

Pronunciation

RY-lee/ˈɹaɪ.li/

Syllables: 2
Ease: easy

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Where Riley Is Recorded

National statistical agencies have recorded Riley in these places. This shows where the name is used — not where it comes from, and not that it carries particular cultural significance there.

New South Wales, AustraliaEngland and WalesNorthern IrelandScotlandRepublic of IrelandNew Zealand

Notable Usage

No safely-sourced notable usage recorded for this name yet.

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

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Riley

Riley at a glance

What stands out in Riley's record

Overview

Popularity

What the data shows

Popularity journey

Riley across 10 official records

Riley by decade in England and Wales · Boys

Riley appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Riley

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1990s

Comparisons involving Riley

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Compared inside New South Wales, Australia lists

Riley and the names beside it

Riley moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Riley

Moved the opposite way to Riley

Moved the same way as Riley

Meaning & Origin

Where Riley is officially recorded

Variants

Similar Names

Spelling

Pronunciation

Where Riley Is Recorded

Notable Usage

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

Riley at a glance

What stands out in Riley's record

Riley across 10 official records

Riley by decade in England and Wales · Boys

Riley appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Riley

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1990s

Comparisons involving Riley

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Compared inside New South Wales, Australia lists

Riley and the names beside it

Riley moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Riley

Moved the opposite way to Riley

Moved the same way as Riley