Ripley

English

"strip of clearing in the woods"

Ripley Origin and Meaning

The name Ripley is a boy's name of English origin meaning "strip of clearing in the woods".

The "Believe It or Not" jokes will get old fast, but this surname feels fun and on-trend for both girls and boys, reminiscent of Riley, Tripp, Bridger, and Oakley.

Deriving from the Old English rippel and leah meaning "grove" and "clearing" respectively, some might recognise it from The Talented Mr Ripley series by Patricia Highsmith, while others may associate it with the Alien movies.

Given to nearly 120 boys in 2023 - the highest number who've ever received the name in a single year - perhaps Ripley could see greater use in coming years.

Popularity of the name Ripley

• 1728 Nameberry 2025
• 510 Unique 2023

20 Names Similar to Ripley

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Ripley.

• West
• Rivers
• Link
• Oaks
• Lake
• Ranger
• Rome
• Ridge
• Memphis
• Slater
• Creed
• Hyde
• Hale
• Kodiak
• Beaux
• Reno
• Marley
• Arlington
• Brick
• Zealand

Famous People Named Ripley

• LeRoy Robert Ripley better known as Robert Ripley, American cartoonist, entrepreneur, and amateur anthropologist, known for creating the "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" newspaper panel series, radio show, and TV show that featured odd facts from around the world, and now a museum

The name Ripley in Pop Culture

• Tom Ripley charming psychopath originally in the 1955 novel "The Talented Mr. Ripley," followed by "Ripley Under Ground" (1970), "Ripley's Game" (1974), "The Boy Who Followed Ripley" (1980), and "Ripley Under Water" (1991), by Patricia Highsmith
• "The Talented Mr. Ripley " 1999 film