Riley is a transferred use of an English surname derived from

Old English Old English ( or , or ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. It developed from the languages brought to Great Britain by Anglo-S ...

+ . It is also derived from the Irish surname

O'Reilly O'Reilly () is a common Irish surname. The O'Reillys were historically the kings of East Bréifne in what is today County Cavan. The clan were part of the Connachta's Uí Briúin Bréifne kindred and were closely related to the Ó Ruairc ( ...

, which originated from the Irish name ''Raghallach'', of unknown meaning.

Regional variations

Europe

In the United Kingdom, it is still primarily a boy's name, and was the 40th most popular name for boys in 2016.

United States

Until the 1990s and early 2000s, Riley was primarily a boy's name in the United States. However, it has become a popular name for girls in the United States and remains in wide use there for girls, with many variant spellings also in use, including ''Reiley'', ''Reilly'', ''Reily'', ''Rhilee'', ''Rhiley'', ''Rhylee'', ''Rhylei'', ''Rhyleigh'', ''Rhyley'', ''Rhyli'', ''Rhylie'', ''Rielee'', ''Rilee'', ''Rileigh'', ''Rilie'', ''Ryelee'', ''Rylea'', ''Rylee'', ''Rylei'', ''Ryleigh'', ''Ryley'', ''Ryli'', ''Rylie'', ''Ryliee'', and ''Ryliegh''. It also remains a well-used name there for boys, also with variant spellings.

People with the name

Notable people with the given name include:

A

* Riley Adams (born 1996), American baseball player *

Riley Armstrong (ice hockey) Riley Armstrong (born November 8, 1984) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and a former player. He is currently the director of player development Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League since 2023. He played two games with the ...

(born 1984), Canadian ice hockey player and coach * Riley Armstrong (musician) (born 1976), Canadian singer-songwriter * Riley Ayre (born 1996), Australian cricketer

B

* Riley Barber (born 1994), American ice hockey player *

Riley Bartholomew Riley Lucas Bartholomew (May 30, 1807 – September 23, 1894) was a Minnesota pioneer and politician who served as state senator from 1859 to 1860. Riley Bartholomew married Fanny A. Watkins in 1829. He became a merchant in Geneva, Ohio, se ...

(1807–1894), American politician and pioneer * Riley Baugus, American guitarist * Riley P. Bechtel (born 1952), American businessman * Riley A. Bender (1890–1973), American businessman and politician * Riley Bidois (born 2002), New Zealand footballer * Riley Biggs (1900–1971), American football player * Riley Black, American paleontologist * Riley Bonner (born 1997), Australian rules footballer * Riley Breckenridge (born 1975), American musician * Riley Brett (1895–1982), American race car driver * Riley Brockington (born 1975), Canadian politician * Riley Brown (born 1984), Australian rugby union footballer * Riley Bullough (born 1993), American football player

C

* Riley Chamberlin (1852–1917), American actor * Riley Clemmons (born 1999), American musician * Riley Cooper (born 1987), American football player *

Riley Cote Riley D. Cote is a former Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and formerly an assistant coach with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL). He played four National Hockey League (NHL) seasons with the Philadelph ...

(born 1982), Canadian ice hockey player

D

* Riley Damiani (born 2000), Canadian ice hockey player * Riley Darnell (1940–2020), American lawyer and politician * Riley Day (born 2000), Australian sprinter * Riley Dean (born 2001), Irish rugby union footballer * Riley Dickinson (born 2002), American racing driver *

Riley Dixon Riley T. Dixon (born August 24, 1993) is an American professional football punter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Broncos in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL draft. He played college ...

(born 1993), American football player * Riley Dodge (born 1988), American football player * Riley Dolezal (born 1985), American javelin thrower

E

* Riley Etheridge Jr., American singer-songwriter

F

Riley Ferguson Riley Logan Ferguson (born January 19, 1995) is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at Memphis. Early years Ferguson attended David W. Butler High School in Matthews, North Carolina. He had 2,173 passing yards a ...

(born 1995), American football player * Riley Fitzsimmons (born 1996), Australian canoeist

G

* Riley Gaines (born 2000), American swimmer *

Riley Gardner Dr. Riley W. Gardner (October 31, 1921 – October 23, 2007) was an American psychologist who published works on individual differences and cognition. Early life and education Gardner was born in Ree Heights, South Dakota, and was the son of Hu ...

(1921–2007), American psychologist * Riley Gibbs (born 1996), American sailor * Riley Gill (born 1985), American ice hockey player * Riley Grant (born 1995), American soccer player * Riley Green (singer) (born 1988), American singer-songwriter * Riley Greene (born 2000), American baseball player * Riley Griffiths (born 1997), American football player * Riley Gunnels (1937–2024), American football player

H

* Riley Harbottle (born 2000), English footballer * Riley Hatch (1862–1925), American singer * Riley Hawk (born 1992), American skateboarder * Riley Hekure (born 1994), Papua New Guinean cricketer * Riley Herbst (born 1999), American stock car racing driver *

Riley Hern William Milton "Riley" Hern (December 5, 1878 – June 24, 1929) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He was the first professional goaltender to play on a Stanley Cup-winning team. Biography Hern began playing ice hockey at an earl ...

(1878–1929), Canadian ice hockey player * Riley Higgins (born 2002), New Zealand rugby union footballer *

Riley Hill (actor) Riley Hill (born Roy Lawrence Harris, March 20, 1914 – September 16, 1993) was an American actor who appeared in both film and television. Over the span of his career he appeared in 71 feature films and over a dozen television series. Biograph ...

(1914–1993), American actor * Riley Hohepa (born 1995), New Zealand rugby union footballer * Riley Holzapfel (born 1988), Canadian ice hockey player * Riley Hoover (born 1998), Guamanian-American footballer * Riley D. Housewright (1913–2003), American microbiologist

I

* Riley Ingram (born 1941), American politician

J

* Riley Jackson (born 2005), American soccer player * Riley Janes (born 1980), Canadian swimmer * Riley Jones (disambiguation), multiple people

K

* Riley Keaton (born 1997), American politician *

Riley Keough Danielle Riley Keough ( ; born May 29, 1989) is an American actress. Born into the Presley family, she is the oldest daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and the eldest grandchild of Elvis Presley. She initially started her career as a model from 200 ...

(born 1989), American actress * Riley Knight (born 1995), Australian rules footballer * Riley B. King, American blues artist

L

* Riley Lee (born 1951), American-Australian shakuhachi player * Riley Leonard (born 2002), American football player * Riley Loos (born 2000), American gymnast

M

* Riley Mahlman (born 2002), American football player * Riley Mants (born 1978), Canadian swimmer * Riley Martin (1946–2015), American author * Riley Matheson (1914–1987), American football player * Riley Mattson (born 1938), American football player * Riley McCarron (born 1993), American football player * Riley McCormick (born 1991), Canadian diver *

Riley McCusker Riley Shannon McCusker (born July 9, 2001) is an American artistic gymnast and a six-time member of the United States women's national gymnastics team (2016–2021). She is the 2019 Pan American Games and 2017 United States national uneven bar ...

(born 2001), American artistic gymnast * Riley McGree (born 1998), Australian footballer * Riley Melanson (born 1999), Canadian kayaker * Riley Meredith (born 1996), Australian cricketer * Riley Carter Millington (born 1993/1994), English actor * Riley Milne (born 1990), Australian rules footballer * Riley Montana (born 1990), American fashion model *

Riley Moore Riley McGowan Moore (born July 1, 1980) is an American politician who has been the U.S. representative for West Virginia's 2nd congressional district since January 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 25th West Vi ...

(born 1980/1981), American politician * Riley Morris (1935–2017), American football player * Riley Moss (born 2000), American football player

N

* Riley Nash (born 1989), Canadian ice hockey player * Riley Nelson (born 1977), Canadian ice hockey player * Riley Newman (born 1993), American professional pickleball player * Riley Dobi Noel (1972–2003), American murderer * Riley Nottingham (born 1991), Australian actor

O

* Riley O'Brien (born 1995), American baseball player *

Riley O'Neill Riley O'Neill (born September 9, 1985) is a Canadian soccer coach and former player who serves as an assistant coach for Pacific FC. Club career On January 18, 2007 O'Neill was drafted by Colorado Rapids in the third round (36th overall) of the ...

(born 1985), Canadian soccer player * Riley Odoms (born 1950), American football player * Riley Osborne (born 1998), British professional wrestler

P

* Riley Parker (disambiguation), multiple people * Riley Parsons (born 2000), English snooker player * Riley Patterson (born 1998), American football player * Riley Pickett (born 1997), Canadian football player * Riley Pickrell (born 2000), Canadian cyclist * Riley Pint (born 1997), American baseball player * Riley L. Pitts (1937–1967), American soldier * Riley Price (born 2001), Australian rugby league footballer *

Riley Puckett George Riley Puckett (May 7, 1894 – July 13, 1946) was an American country music artist, best known as a member of Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers. His dynamic single-string guitar playing, featuring dramatic bass runs, earned for him an ...

(1894–1946), American musician

R

* Riley Reddish (1933–2008), American politician * Riley Redgate, American author *

Riley Reid Riley Reid (born July 9, 1991) is an American pornographic film actress. She has won over 50 awards, including the 2014 XBIZ Award for Female Performer of the Year and the AVN Award for Female Performer of the Year in 2016. She was inducted i ...

(born 1991), American pornographic actress * Riley Reiff (born 1988), American football player * Riley Ridley (born 1996), American football player * Riley Edward Robinson (1847–1921), English minister *

Riley Rossmo Riley Rossmo is a Canadians, Canadian comic book artist and illustrator, known for his work on various Image Comics titles, as well as Marvel Comics' ''Daken: Dark Wolverine''. Rossmo is an instructor at the Alberta College of Art and Design. Per ...

, Canadian comic book artist

S

Riley Salmon Riley Salmon (born July 2, 1976) is an American volleyball player. He graduated from Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas, and played two years of varsity volleyball at Pierce College from 1994–96, before joining the men's natio ...

(born 1976), American volleyball player * Riley Ann Sawyers (2005–2007), American murder victim * Riley Schillaci (born 1982), American performance artist * Riley Senft (born 1979), Canadian humanitarian * Riley Sheahan (born 1991), Canadian ice hockey player * Riley Sheehan (born 2000), American cyclist * Riley Shepard (1918–2009), American musician *

Riley Skinner Riley Skinner (born October 21, 1986) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and was signed by the New York Gi ...

(born 1986), American football player *

Riley Smith Riley Smith (born April 12, 1978) is an American actor. He is known for his roles on television, such as recurring roles in the series '' 24'', ''Joan of Arcadia'', '' 90210'', ''True Blood'' and '' The Messengers'', and starring roles on the ...

(born 1978), American actor * Riley Smith (American football) (1911–1999), American football player * Riley Stearns (born 1986), American filmmaker * Riley Steele (born 1987), American pornographic actress * Riley Stewart (1919–2000), American baseball player * Riley Stillman (born 1998), Canadian ice hockey player * Riley E. Stratton (1823–1866), American attorney * Riley Swanson (born 1984), American attorney

T

* Riley Thilthorpe (born 2002), Australian rules footballer * Riley Thomson (1912–1960), American animator * Riley Tufte (born 1998), American ice hockey player

U

* Riley Uggla (born 1995), British-Canadian designer

V

Riley Voelkel Riley Emilia Voelkel (born April 26, 1990) is an American-born Canadian actress. She is known for portraying Freya Mikaelson on The CW television series '' The Originals'' and '' Legacies''. Voelkel also played the role of Jenna Johnson on the HB ...

(born 1990), American-Canadian actress

W

* Riley Wallace (born 1941), American basketball coach * Riley "Special" Wallace (born 1983), Canadian musician * Riley Wang (born 1996), Canadian-Taiwanese actor * Riley Ware (born 1962), American football player * Riley Warland (born 2002), Australian footballer * Riley Watson (1859–1915), English doctor * Riley Weselowski (born 1985), Canadian ice hockey player * Riley Weston (born 1966), American actress * Riley J. Wilson (1871–1946), American attorney and legislator * Riley Woodcock (born 1995), Australian footballer

Y

* Riley S. Young (1860–1952), American politician

Fictional characters

Fictional characters with the given name include: * Riley Abel, a character in the video game ''The Last of Us: Left Behind'' *Riley Andersen, a character in the '' Inside Out franchise'' * Riley Biers, a character in the novel series '' The Twilight Saga'' *Riley Blue, a character in the

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

series ''

Sense8 ''Sense8'' () is an American science fiction drama television series created by Lana and Lilly Wachowski and J. Michael Straczynski for Netflix. The production companies behind ''Sense8'' included the Wachowskis' Anarchos Productions (replac ...

'' *Riley Daring, a character in ''The Replacements'' *Riley Dawson, character in the television series '' Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles'' *

Riley Finn Riley Finn is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series '' Buffy the Vampire Slayer''. Portrayed by Marc Blucas, Riley was introduced in the 1999 season 4 premiere episode, " The Freshman", and Blucas was part of th ...

, character in the television series ''

Buffy the Vampire Slayer ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' is an American supernatural fiction, supernatural drama television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon. The concept is based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film), 1992 film, also written by Whedon, a ...

'' *

Riley Freeman Riley Freeman is a character from print syndication, syndicated comic strip The Boondocks (comic strip), ''The Boondocks'' written by Aaron McGruder and its The Boondocks (TV series), TV series adaptation. He often refers to himself as "Riley Esc ...

, character in the animated television series ''

The Boondocks Boondocks are remote, usually brushy areas. Boondocks may also refer to: * The Boondocks (comic strip), ''The Boondocks'' (comic strip), a comic strip by Aaron McGruder ** The Boondocks (TV series), ''The Boondocks'' (TV series), the television s ...

'' *Riley Griffin, a character in ''

Power Rangers Dino Charge ''Power Rangers Dino Charge'' is the twenty-second season of the long-running television program ''Power Rangers''. Using footage, costumes and props from Japanese 37th Super Sentai Series '' Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger'', it is the first season to ...

''. *Riley Matthews, a character in the Disney Channel spinoff series '' Girl Meets World'' * Riley Parker, a character in ''

Neighbours ''Neighbours'' is an Australian television soap opera that has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap '' Sons and ...

'' * Riley Roberts, a character from the

Disney Channel Disney Channel is an American pay television television channel, channel that serves as the flagship (broadcasting), flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company ...

show '' The Torkelsons'' *Riley Valdor, a character in the game ''Timecrest''

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riley (Given Name) English feminine given names Feminine given names English masculine given names Masculine given names English given names English unisex given names