RILEY  

Gender: M
Origin: Irish
Meaning: "courageous"

Popularity in 2008: #106

Friendly, popular surname choice, rising faster now for girls than boys--it's in the female Top 40.

Variations:
Riely, Rilye, Ryely, Rhiley, Ryley, Reilly, Rilee, Reiley, Rillie, Rylie, Rylee, Rhyley, Rhylee, Rilley, Rily, Rieley, Reily, Reilley, Rielly

Riley is being discussed in our message boards:

• Names of my Students
• Popular names you just don't 'get'.
• Names heard about town in the last week or so
• narrowing my list...need help
• my someday son..

Read Nameberry blog posts about Riley:

• BOYS' NAMES FOR GIRLS: A Key To Success?
• TOP ENGLISH BOYS' NAMES
• THE SOFTER SIDE OF BOYS' NAMES
• CELTIC NAMES: Irish, Scottish, Welsh and beyond
• NEW SURNAME NAMES FOR BOYS