Riley name Meaning and Dictionary
- Name
- Riley
- Name Meaning
- "Riley" A transferred use of the English surname, from the Old English ryge, meaning "rye" and "clearing" or "meadow". Alternatively, from the Irish surname Reilly or O'Reilly.
- Definition
- Riley is a unisex name which means " valiant", and it is of English and Irish origin. It is also referred as a county as Riley county located in U.S. The prominent references for the name is Riley Voelkel an American - Canadian actress and Riley Smith an American actor.
- Rye clearing
- Pronunciations
- Ri-ley
- riley
- RIGH-lee
- rahy-lee
- ri-ley
- IPA Notation
- ɹajˈli
- Syllable
- Riley Syllable count: There are 2 syllables in the name Riley
- Divide Riley into syllables: ri-ley
- Stressed syllable in Riley: ri-ley
- Sentences
- What Lincoln Riley said about Oklahoma facing LSU in CFB Playoff
- Giants reportedly agree to contract extension with Riley Dixon
- Giants lock up punter Riley Dixon on three-year extension
- NFL rumors: Latest on potential replacements for Cowboys’ Jason Garrett after loss to Bears | Urban Meyer? Lincoln Riley?
- Vikings Injury Report: Adam Thielen Doubtful, Riley Reiff Questionable
Riley Overview and Analysis
Riley Gender statistics
The name Riley is typically used for Boys and Girls. Its a Unisex name with ambiguous gender identification.
Popularity of the name Riley
The name Riley is classified as Unique and ranked at the 290th most popular name in the Namedary database.
| Country | In-Country Rank | Population Share |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 98 | 0.22% |
| Canada | 106 | 0.17% |
| Australia | 142 | 0.2% |
| New Zealand | 264 | 0.11% |
| United States | 339 | 0.07% |
Where to find Riley?
The name Riley is predominantly found in United Kingdom (UK), particularly in the state of East Wales (EW), where it constitutes 0.24% of the total population.
Riley Usage Trend Over Time
In recent years, the trend of using the name Riley has been Decreasing gradually. The name Riley was most used in 2011 with a usage rate of 4.99%. It was least used in 1911 with a usage rate of 0.004%.
To enhance readability, percentage is rounded up. Values less than 0.0015% have been omitted.The data is carefully curated from authentic human sources and thoroughly analyzed from a wide range of sources.
Similar Names to Riley
Names with a Similar Sound to Riley
Here is a list of names that share a similar sound to Riley:
These are 181 names that sound like Riley. Explore them all here!
Two Syllable Names Similar to Riley
Here is a list of 2 syllable baby names that have the same syllable structure as Riley:
Explore over 75500+ Two syllable baby names inspired by Riley. View all here!
Names starting with R
The name Riley begins with the letter R. Here is a list of names that start with the letter R, similar to Riley:
Discover over 8,500+ Names beginning with the letter R in our extensive name database. Explore the complete list here!
Origin and History of the name Riley
It is a given name derived from the Irish surname “Ó Raghallaigh or the Anglicised form O’Reilly”.
The origin of this name is still today quite uncertain.The theories include: 1) The name is composed of two elements: from the Gaelic “ràgh” (Irish: Rás; Proto-Germanic: *rēsō), meaning “race” plus the Irish and Scottish Gaelic “Caillech”, meaning “veiled one”, an adjectival form of “caille”, meaning “veil”.
In Gaelic mythology, Cailleach is a divine hag, a creator deity and weather deity, and possibly an ancestor deity.
2) From an Old English surname and place name, from the root “roggo lēah”, meaning “rye clearing” (rye, type of grain).
The Ó Raghallaigh family were part of the Connachta, with the eponymous Raghallach said to have died at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.
The family became the kings of East Breifne, modern-day County Cavan, and County Longford.
Emotion and Symbolism of the Name Riley
Riley Emotional Perception
Riley feels extroverted, family, and joyous as a baby name. It feels young at heart.
Symbolic Meaning of Riley
In English, Riley means “from the rye clearing” as it retains the meaning of the surname. In Irish, the name means descendent of Roghallach as this is the original surname that existed in ancient Ireland. This family was known for being courageous, which is why courage plays a part in the meaning as well.
Riley in Chinese
- Translation
- 赖利
- Pronunce
- (PinYin) : lài lì
Riley in Numerology
| R | I | L | E | Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 5 | 7 | ||
| 9 | 3 |
Applying the rules of numerology (Pythagorean numerology):
- Soul Number (Heart's Desire Number): Number 3
- Expression Number (Personality Number): Number 3
- Destiny Number (Life Path Number): Number 6
Famous people named Riley
- Riley A. Bender (1890–1973), American Businessman And Politician
- Riley B. King (b.b. King) (born 1925), African-american Songwriter, Vocalist And Guitarist
- Riley Breckenridge (1975), American Musician
- Riley Brett (1895–1982), American Race Car Driver
- Riley Chamberlin (1852–1917), American Silent Film Actor
- Riley Cote (born 1982), Canadian Ice Hockey Player
- Riley Darnell (1940), American Secretary Of State Of Tennessee
- Riley E. Stratton (1823–1866), Associate Justice Of The Oregon Supreme Court
- Riley Franklin Mcconnell (1884–1940), American Recipient Of The Navy Cross
- Riley Hern (1880–1929), Canadian Ice Hockey Player
- Riley J. Wilson (1871–1946), American Educator, Attorney
- Riley Keough (1989), American Model, Granddaughter Of Elvis Presley
- Riley L. Pitts (1937–1967), First African-american To Be Awarded The Medal Of Honor
- Riley Martin (born 1946), American Author
- Riley Matheson (1914–1987), American American Football Player
- Riley Mattson (born 1938), American American Football Player
- Riley Nash (born 1989), Canadian Ice Hockey Player
- Riley O'neill (born 1985), Canadian Soccer Player
- Riley Odoms (born 1950), American American Football Player
- Riley P. Bechtel (born 1952), American Businessman
- Riley Puckett (1894–1946), American Musician
- Riley Salmon (born 1976), American Volleyball Player
- Riley Schillaci (born 1982), American Sword Swallower
- Riley Skinner (born 1986), American College Football Player
- Riley Smith (1911–1999), American Football Player
- Riley Smith (born 1978), American Actor
- Riley Steele (born 1987), American Adult Actress
- Riley Swanson (born 1984), American Football Player
- Riley Thomson (1912–1960), American Animator And Comics Artist
- Riley Wallace (born 1941), American College Basketball Coach
- Riley Weston (born 1966), American Actress
Conclusions about the name Riley
Should you named your baby Riley?
The name Riley is not strongly associated with either gender because it is given to boys and girls in roughly equal proportions (according to the gender statistics). As a result, people are less likely to assume the gender of a person named Riley based solely on their name.
It is important to consider the gender-neutral nature of the name Riley when naming your child. This is because people may be confused about your child's gender if you do not provide other clues, such as their appearance or clothing.
Is Riley a good name?
The name Riley strike a harmonious balance between being easy to pronounce and possessing a touch of personality. The name Riley offer a pleasing cadence and a hint of individuality, making them a popular choice for parents.
What are the Pros and Cons of the name Riley?
Pros of the name Riley:
- Uniqueness: Your child will be the only one or one of a few people with their name Riley, which can make them feel special and unique.
- Potential for creativity: The name Riley is truly unique and reflects your child's personality.
- Potential for nostalgia: Riley may bring back fond memories for older generations.
- Less likely to be associated with negative stereotypes: The name Riley are less likely to be associated with negative stereotypes or connotations.
- Potential for your child to stand out: In a world of increasingly common names, a rare name like Riley can help your child stand out from the crowd.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to name your child Riley is a personal one. There is no right or wrong answer. Consider all of the factors listed above, and make the decision that you and your partner feel is best for your child.