RILEY  

Gender: F
Origin: Irish
Meaning: "courageous"

Popularity in 2008: #39

Red hot for girls (though still popular for boys), this upbeat, friendly Irish surname name is currently given to about five-thousand baby girls each year.

Variations:
Rylea, Reilly, Ryleigh, Reilley, Rylie, Ryley, Rylee

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