How Many People Are Named Riley?

Complete statistics for the name Riley: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Riley
Uncommon
Old English

Riley means 'counselor' in Old English and has been gaining popularity since the early 2000s; 1 in 1,428 Americans today have this name, totaling around 231,142 people; most people named Riley are under 30, with the peak birth year being 2008.

~129,431
Living in US
1 in 2,561
Americans
2008
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Counselor
🌐
Origin
Old English
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 33
Personality Traits
Confident Determined
33
Life Path Number

Life path number 33 is often associated with spiritual growth and humanitarian efforts.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

231,665
Worldwide Bearers
#33,175
Global Rank
🇺🇸 United States
231,142
🇮🇱 Israel
58
🇵🇪 Peru
48
🇲🇾 Malaysia
46
🇳🇱 Netherlands
42
🇵🇭 Philippines
35
🇷🇺 Russia
35
🇨🇳 China
29
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
25
🇲🇽 Mexico
23

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
94,828 (41%)
♀ Female
136,314 (59%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 20
211,464
Would be under 30 (88%)
20,029
Would be 30–60 (8%)
9,287
Would be over 60 (4%)

All 240,780 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 2008

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Slowly declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
100
Classic Feel
41
Modern Appeal
79
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Riley Through the Generations

With its roots in Old English, Riley has seen a surge in popularity, particularly among younger generations. The name reached its zenith in 2008 when 9,904 babies were given this moniker, reflecting a trend towards modern, unique names. Today, the majority of Rileys are under 30, indicating that it's still a popular choice for new parents, though the overall trend shows a slight decline.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 22,364
Texas 17,141
Florida 11,903
New York 10,761
Ohio 9,969
Pennsylvania 9,946
Illinois 8,405
Michigan 8,220
North Carolina 7,996
Georgia 7,806

⭐ Famous People Named Riley

Riley is a transferred use of an English surname derived from Old English ryge 'rye' + lēah 'wood, clearing'.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Riley

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Riley's Old English roots

📄 About the Name Riley

How Many People Have the Name Riley?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 129,431 people in the United States currently share the name Riley. That works out to roughly 1 in every 2,561 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.

Is Riley a Common or Rare Name?

Riley is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Riley Mean?

Riley means "counselor" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 33.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Riley in SSA data, approximately 41% are male and 59% are female.

When Was Riley Most Popular?

The name Riley reached peak popularity in 2008, with 9,904 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Riley?

Approximately 129,431 people named Riley live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 129,431. That works out to roughly 1 in 2,561 Americans.

Is Riley a rare name?

Riley is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 2,561 Americans has this name.

What does the name Riley mean?

Riley means "counselor" and comes from Old English origins.

Is Riley more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 41% of people named Riley are male and 59% are female.

When was Riley most popular?

Riley peaked in 2008 with 9,904 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US129,431
All-Time Births129,431
1 in X1 in 2,561
RarityUncommon
GenderFemale
Avg Age20
Peak Year2008
World Rank#33,175
Male %41%
Female %59%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.