Riley (given name)
| Pronunciation | /ˈraɪli/ RY-lee |
|---|---|
| Gender | unisex |
| Origin | |
| Word/name | Irish Gaelic |
| Meaning | "valiant", "rye clearing" |
| Other names | |
| Related names | Rylee, Ryleigh, Rylie, Reilly, Reily, Rheilly, Rilie |
Riley is a unisex given name, which first appeared as Raghallach, which was originated on a man who died in the Battle of Clontarf. Its source gives its meaning as "valiant".[1]
Riley in the United States is mostly a girl's name. In 2017, it was the twenty-fifth most popular girl's name, and the 253rd most popular boy's name.[2] The opposite is true for the UK, where it is primarily a boy's name, being the fortieth most popular name given to baby boys in 2016.[3]
Riley is also a popular surname. The surname's first variant is Ó Raghallaigh (Descendent of/Of Raghallach) which was later adapted in English as O'Reilly which itself has been anglicised into "Reilly". The surname "Riley" is a translated version of Reilly; which evolved over time. It currently is #8 in England and Wales, #9 in Northern Ireland, #15 in Scotland, #30 in Australia and New Zealand, #64 in Canada, #156 in the United States, and #198 in the Netherlands.
People with first name "Riley"
- Riley Armstrong (disambiguation), multiple people
- Riley P. Bechtel (1952–), American businessman
- Riley A. Bender (1890–1973), American businessman and politician
- Riley Biggs (1900–1971), American football player
- Riley Breckenridge (1975–), American musician
- Riley Brett (1895–1982), American race car driver
- Riley Chamberlin (1852–1917), American silent film actor
- Riley Cooper (1987-) American football player
- Riley Darnell (1940–), American Secretary of State of Tennessee
- Riley Dolezal (born 1985), American javelin thrower
- Riley Keough (born 1989), American actress and model
- Riley B. King (B.B. King) (1925–2015), American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter
- Riley Martin (1946–2015), American author
- Riley Matheson (1914–1987), American football player
- Riley Mattson (1938–), American football player
- Riley McCusker (2001–), American gymnast
- Riley Franklin McConnell (1884–1940), American recipient of the Navy Cross
- Riley Nash (1989–), Canadian ice hockey player
- Riley Dobi Noel (1972–2004), American murderer
- Riley O'Neill (1985–), Canadian soccer player
- Riley Odoms (1950–), American football player
- Riley L. Pitts (1937–1967), first African-American to be awarded the Medal of Honor
- Riley Puckett (1894–1946), American musician
- Riley Reid (1991–), American pornographic actress
- Riley Salmon (1976–), American volleyball player
- Riley Skinner (1986–), American college football player
- Riley Smith (born 1978), American actor
- Riley Smith (American football) (1911–1999)
- Riley E. Stratton (1823–1866), American
- Riley Swanson (born 1984), American attorney and judge
- Riley Thomson (1912–1960), American animator
- Riley Voelkel (born 1990), American Canadian actress
- Riley Wallace (born 1941), American basketball coach
- Riley Ware (born 1962), American football player
Fictional characters
- Riley Biers, a character in the Twilight books
- Riley Dawson, character in the television series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
- Riley Finn, character in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Riley Freeman, character in the animated television series The Boondocks
- Riley Parker, a character on Neighbours
- Riley Poole, character in the National Treasure franchise
- Riley Stavros, a character in Degrassi: The Next Generation
- Riley Andersen, a character in the film Inside Out
Notes
- ^ Rosenkrantz, Linda, and Satran, Pamela Redmond (2007). Baby Name Bible. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 978-0-312-35220-2
- ^ https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi
- ^ https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/sep/20/olivia-oliver-2016-top-baby-names-england-and-wales
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