Riley
Pronunciation/ˈraɪli/ RY-lee
Origin
Language(s)Old English, Irish
Other names
Related namesReilly, Rileigh, Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie

Riley is a transferred use of an English surname derived from Old English ryge ‘rye’ + lēah ‘wood’, ‘clearing’.[1] [2]

It is also derived from the Irish surname O'Reilly, [3] which originated from the Irish name Raghallach, of unknown meaning. [4]

Regional variations

Europe

In the United Kingdom, it is still primarily a boy's name, and was the 40th most popular name for boys in 2016.[5]

United States

Until the 1990s and early 2000s, Riley was primarily a boy's name in the United States. However, it has become a popular name for girls in the United States and remains in wide use there for girls, with many variant spellings also in use, including Reiley, Reilly, Reily, Rhilee, Rhiley, Rhylee, Rhylei, Rhyleigh, Rhyley, Rhyli, Rhylie, Rielee, Rilee, Rileigh, Rilie, Ryelee, Rylea, Rylee, Rylei, Ryleigh, Ryley, Ryli, Rylie, Ryliee, and Ryliegh. It also remains a well-used name there for boys, also with variant spellings.[6] [7]

Notable men with this given name

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

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Y

Notable women with this given name

Fictional male characters

Fictional female characters

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Riley - given name origin".
  2. ↑ Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006). Oxford Dictionary of First Names. Oxford University Press. p. 231. ISBN 0-19-861060-2.
  3. ↑ Bardsley, Charles Wareing (1901). A dictionary of English and Welsh surnames. Henry Frowde. p. 647. ISBN 9785871144015.
  4. ↑ Hanks, Patrick; Hardcastle, Kate; Hodges, Flavia (2006). Oxford Dictionary of First Names. Oxford University Press. p. 231. ISBN 0-19-861060-2.
  5. ↑ "Olivia and Oliver were 2016's top baby names in England and Wales". Sep 20, 2017. Retrieved Aug 12, 2019 – via www.theguardian.com.
  6. ↑ "Popular Baby Names".
  7. ↑ Rauwerda, Anne (10 November 2021). "Haileigh and Beighleigh and Paisleigh, oh my!". michigandaily.com. Michigan Daily. Retrieved 10 January 2023.


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