Riley is a unisex given name of Irish origin. It derives from the Irish surname O'Raghallaigh, which means "descendant of Ragallach." Ragallach is believed to be derived from the Old Irish word "réidhe" meaning "fierce" or "courageous."
The name Riley first appeared as a given name in the late 19th century in Ireland. However, it was not until the mid-20th century that it began to gain popularity as a unisex given name. Today, Riley is used around the world and has become particularly popular in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In recent years, the name Riley has also gained popularity as a surname in its own right, with many people choosing to use it instead of their original family name for personal reasons. Despite this, it is still most commonly used as a given name.
Overall, Riley is a strong and distinctive name with a rich history dating back centuries. Its meaning "fierce" or "courageous" makes it an appealing choice for parents looking to give their child a powerful and unique name.
The statistics provided show the annual number of births with the name Riley in the United States from 1880 to 2023. Over this period of 143 years, there has been a significant increase in the popularity of the name Riley.
From 1880 to 1957, the number of births with the name Riley fluctuated between a low of 30 and a high of 167. However, starting in 1958, there was a notable increase in the number of babies named Riley, reaching 2446 births in 2014.
The peak popularity of the name Riley occurred between 1983 and 2002, with the highest number of births occurring in 2002, at 4077. After this period, the popularity of the name started to decrease, reaching a low of 1364 births in 2020.
Overall, from 1880 to 2023, there were a total of 101752 babies named Riley born in the United States. This data provides an interesting overview of how the popularity of the name Riley has evolved over time in the country.