Riley — Girl name popularity
2025 rank #48 · peak #22 (2016) · 141,960 babies all-time
Riley is a girls' name that, in 2025, was ranked #48 (4,441 babies) in the United States, according to the Social Security Administration. Its all-time peak was #22 in 2016 (7,159 babies). Across the years tracked here it has been given to about 141,960 babies. Riley has come down from its peak but remains in use. The table below shows Riley's SSA rank and birth count year by year. (We report only counts SSA publishes; years where the name fell below SSA's 5-baby threshold show no count.)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Popular Baby Names. Data as of SSA national data through 2025, state data through 2025, retrieved June 2026.
Riley popularity over time
Rank and number of girls named Riley per year, from SSA national data. Recent years are shown individually; earlier history is shown at decade points back to 1930.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #48 | 4,441 |
| 2024 | #42 | 4,657 |
| 2023 | #43 | 4,643 |
| 2022 | #39 | 4,914 |
| 2021 | #37 | 5,225 |
| 2020 | #33 | 5,339 |
| 2019 | #30 | 5,712 |
| 2018 | #28 | 6,010 |
| 2017 | #25 | 6,368 |
| 2016 | #22 | 7,159 |
| 2015 | #35 | 5,739 |
| 2014 | #47 | 4,800 |
| 2013 | #45 | 4,941 |
| 2012 | #47 | 4,833 |
| 2011 | #47 | 5,045 |
| 2010 | #40 | 5,543 |
| 2009 | #38 | 5,637 |
| 2008 | #39 | 5,774 |
| 2007 | #52 | 5,212 |
| 2006 | #56 | 5,056 |
| 2005 | #54 | 5,127 |
| 2004 | #58 | 4,982 |
| 2003 | #72 | 4,243 |
| 2002 | #77 | 3,906 |
| 2001 | #106 | 3,044 |
| 2000 | #131 | 2,552 |
| 1999 | #138 | 2,312 |
| 1998 | #166 | 1,877 |
| 1997 | #184 | 1,669 |
| 1996 | #247 | 1,150 |
| 1990 | #826 | 238 |
| 1980 | #4271 | 18 |
| 1930 | #5120 | 5 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Popular Baby Names. Data as of SSA national data through 2025, state data through 2025, retrieved June 2026.
Key facts
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Sex | Girl |
| 2025 rank | #48 |
| 2025 babies | 4,441 |
| Peak rank | #22 (2016) |
| Peak-year babies | 7,159 |
| First tracked year | 1930 |
| All-time babies (tracked years) | 141,960 |
Riley as a boy name
Riley is also used for boys: in 2025 it ranked #208 with 1,666 babies. See the boys' Riley page.
Similar in popularity (2025)
| Girl name | 2025 rank | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Emilia | #45 | 4,677 |
| Nova | #46 | 4,657 |
| Naomi | #47 | 4,644 |
| Eloise | #49 | 4,251 |
| Sadie | #50 | 4,168 |
| Delilah | #51 | 4,137 |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Riley for girls?
In 2025, Riley was the 48th most popular girls' name in the US, given to 4,441 babies, per the Social Security Administration. Its all-time peak was #22 in 2016 (7,159 babies).
When was Riley most popular?
For girls, Riley peaked at rank #22 in 2016 (7,159 babies). The first year it appears in SSA data (within our tracked years) is 1930. It has been given to about 141,960 babies in total across the years we track.
Is Riley a boy or girl name?
Riley is used for both. As a girls' name it was rank #48 in 2025; as a boys' name it was rank #208. The SSA counts the two separately.
Keep exploring
Source
U.S. Social Security Administration, Popular Baby Names, national data 1880–2025. SSA national data through 2025, state data through 2025, retrieved June 2026. Public domain (U.S. Government). SSA has no name meanings or origins; this page presents only popularity data. See our methodology.
Last updated: 2026-06-22