Baby Name Popularity Profile

Riley

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Riley.

✦ Valiant or rye clearing 🌍 Irish, English traditional
National Rank (2025) #208
All-Time Peak Rank #99 Achieved 2002
Total U.S. Births 105,025 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 32.0% Boy / 68.0% Girl Leans Female
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2000s 4,396 births in 2006
💡 The Riley Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Valiant or rye clearing
Language Origin Irish, English
Origin Type multiple
Derived from the Irish surname Ó Raghallaigh, meaning 'descendant of Raghallach' ('valiant', 'courageous'). Also from an English place name meaning 'rye clearing'.
Common Nicknames
Ri Lee
Alternative Spellings
Rylee Ryleigh Reilly
Pronunciation: RY-lee
Themes & Categories
traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Riley

According to SSA data, Riley achieved its highest historical rank of #99 in 2002. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2006 with 4,396 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 20.4%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Riley across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Rising
10-Year Shift -20.4% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 4,396 births in 2006
Years in Top 100 1 yrs
Years in Top 500 107 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 458
1890s: 386
1900s: 383
1910s: 1,210
1920s: 1,668
1930s: 1,470
1940s: 1,663
1950s: 1,424
1960s: 938
1970s: 1,090
1980s: 3,436
1990s: 18,841
2000s: 39,622
2010s: 23,145
2020s: 9,291

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Ri-ley
Letter Count 5 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 7.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 7.7% of SSA names. Starts with R, a letter used by only 4.7% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Riley.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Alaska
Top States Alaska, Utah, Idaho, South Dakota, Montana
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Alaska Unranked 389 2006 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #370 2,277 1997 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #187 1,013 1999 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota Unranked 851 1999 Insufficient historical volume
Montana #156 753 1997 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #189 3,855 2006 +51.6% Growth
Wyoming Unranked 312 2005 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #197 1,996 2008 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #432 701 2008 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire #183 619 2003 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #197 3,567 2003 +25.9% Growth
North Dakota Unranked 624 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont #98 306 2004 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #171 2,103 2007 +35.5% Growth
Hawaii Unranked 499 2006 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #227 1,155 2000 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #180 3,112 2005 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #151 1,994 2003 +10.3% Growth
Arizona #389 1,792 2008 31.0% Decline
Maine #99 617 2004 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #205 4,714 2008 +32.1% Growth
Tennessee #163 2,805 2006 +17.6% Growth
Iowa #306 1,556 1999 48.0% Decline
Missouri #157 2,590 2001 +12.5% Growth
Georgia #199 3,138 2006 +17.0% Growth
Alabama #154 2,054 2010 +11.8% Growth
Kansas #217 1,174 2005 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #131 1,184 2008 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #202 2,534 2004 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #167 3,050 2006 +72.7% Growth
Virginia #170 2,250 2007 +35.0% Growth
Texas #321 7,128 2010 +8.4% Growth
Mississippi #73 1,161 2009 +40.0% Growth
Louisiana #204 1,642 2011 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #179 1,576 2006 Insufficient historical volume
California #287 9,010 2006 +30.3% Growth
Maryland #239 1,312 2004 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #233 3,163 2003 17.0% Decline
South Carolina #172 1,203 2002 +22.2% Growth
Delaware #138 159 2009 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico Unranked 401 2006 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #193 3,377 2002 +45.7% Growth
Illinois #244 3,343 2003 +11.6% Growth
Connecticut #154 737 2004 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #200 1,532 2002 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia #289 580 2008 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island #227 220 2009 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #209 3,146 2008 +45.2% Growth
New York #290 3,403 2006 +30.0% Growth
New Jersey #353 1,130 2007 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia #137 101 2010 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Jonah Jesus Caden Oscar Brody Kaleb Gavin Hunter Luis Carlos
👧 Sister Suggestions
Julia Peyton Gracie Kaylee Maggie Alana Kylie Faith Nevaeh Isabel

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