Updated October 2026
Across 2 pages
of 2
English, Irish
"rye clearing; courageous"
Riley—an upbeat, friendly surname name—is red hot for girls and still going strong for boys. If you haven't been spending much time around babies recently, you may be surprised to learn that Riley is…
Spelling variation of Riley, Irish
"courageous"
This substitute spelling of Riley has been popular with parents for a decade. Rylee entered the charts in 1994, and is solidly within the Top 200 for the last 2 decades. Ryleigh is another spelling…
Riley — one of the most popular unisex names — is trendier now for girls though for boys it's a classic, ALWAYS ranking in the US Top 1000. In fact, after a decade of softening, Riley has recently…
Another increasingly well-used, more feminine form of Riley, this one is particularly popular in the South. Ryleigh, along with Rylee, have been rising in popularity in recent years. Ryleigh paved…
The -ee suffix is decisively feminine, so it's no surprise that male usage of this name lags behind female usage.
Variation of Riley, Irish
Riley is the most popular Irish girls' name in the US as well as the most popular baby girl name starting with R, so it's no surprise that it's spawned legions of variations. Ryla is one of the rarer…
Greek
"demi-god; admired, courageous"
A bold, brave choice, that some may worry is a little heavy to bestow on a child, Hero wouldn't seem too out of place alongside Chosen, Merritt, or Noble. Though the mythological Hero was female, as…
Irish
This more elaborate but not unfamiliar spelling of Riley feels oddly more feminine. Designer and Beatle daughter Stella McCartney has a daughter named Reilley. Still, Reilly or more common Riley is…
Riley is the spelling of this lively Irish name most often picked for girls, but this version is occasionally used.
Hebrew, English, Irish
"strength, powerful, courageous; god's warrior; deer friend"
While some may think of ruby slippers and a yellow brick road, Oz is a legitimate Hebrew name denoting power. An element in a number of names including Ozni, Oziel, and Ozias, it may also be used as…
Hebrew
"strong, mighty, courageous"
Place-name of a settlement in Galilee in Israel.
An alternative spelling to the popular Riley, but significantly less used.
An alternative spelling of the popular Riley, this name was once in the UK Top 300, though now lingers in the 900s. Riley is much more popular both there and everywhere else.
Latin, Esperanto
"courageous; valuable"
Valora may be one of several things: a femininization of word name Valor, celebrating bravery and strength; an Esperanto name meaning "valuable"; a spin on Valerie and Valeria, via the Valorie…
English
"son of the courageous one"
For fans of Warren G. All two of them.
French from German
"courageous people"
Pronounced TEE-bow, this version, which is also a very common surname in France, has a lot more charm than the name it derives from — Theobald. A variant spelling is Thibaut. Trivia tidbit:…
Virtually unknown in this country, has an interesting, rhythmic feel.
"courageous raven"
We can hear the kids teasing him from here.
If you're looking for a pleasing namesake that's more modern than Darrell/Darryl, this would make an excellent choice. Farrell is an Anglicized form of the Irish Fergal, and was well used as a first…
German
"courageous in battle"
Baby-naming rule #984: forget any name that contains the syllable wig.