Names › Girls' names › R › Riley
Riley
Meaning: descendant of Raghallach; or 'rye clearing' · Origin: Irish / English · Gender: usually a girl's name
Origin & history
Can come from the Irish surname Ó Raghallaigh (Reilly) or from an English place name meaning 'rye clearing'. Long a boys' name, it is now more common for girls in the US.
Nicknames
Ri, Rye
Variants & related names
Reilly, Rylee, Ryleigh
Riley name art
A free preview of a printable “Riley” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.
FAQ
What does the name Riley mean?
Riley means “descendant of Raghallach; or 'rye clearing'”. It comes from Irish / English.
Is Riley a popular name?
Yes — Riley has been one of the most popular girls' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.
What are nicknames for Riley?
Ri, Rye.
What are other forms of Riley?
Reilly, Rylee, Ryleigh.
Similar names
Kennedy · Reagan · Sloane · Alana · Nora · Quinn
More: names starting with R · all girls' names
Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.