Riot

Riot has all the sounds of a trendy name — the first syllable that of trendy choices like Ryder, Ryker, and Rylan, rhyming with Wyatt. But the strong negative connotations of the word, suggesting violence, turn many (but not all) parents away from Riot as a baby name. Ryatt, one step removed, is more common.

Riot has positive associations as well, as when used to describe someone funny or outrageous. And then there's the famous quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, "A riot is the language of the unheard", which sheds light on the way marginalized communities have used riots to make their voices heard.

If anyone can make a name like Riot mainstream, it's Rihanna. Keeping with their R theme, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky named their second son Riot Rose, brother to RZA. Riot substantially rose in popularity between 2021 and 2022 — this starbaby should only accelerate its growth.

Given to 160 baby boys in a recent year, spelling variation Ryatt is twice as popular, while Ryot, Ryott, and Riott have also grown in use.

Riot is also given to girls, where it ranks #5872 in the US.

Pronounced RY-ut.

As of October 2026, Riot ranked #1265 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #1243 in 2024.