Riley? Really?

One Riley, about 8, no screeching.
Tylers coming out of our ears, here. No screechy parents for them, either.
Don't know a single Hugo/Sebastian/Quentin.

Tyler is another name I don't know any boys called. And yet it is high up the charts.

I've name changed for this because it could well out me. I have an 18 year old son whose middle name is Riley. I was very, very tempted to use it as his first name but I have an older son whose name is Rory and some people felt they were too similar, so I used it as a middle name instead. I loved it back then, I got TONS of compliments on it, and for years my DS said he wished it was his first name.

And then they started. The Rileys. About 5 years ago. And the people who chose it always seemed to be...let's just say not my type of people. I hate it now (funny how that can happen to a name depending on the who you learn to associate it with) and I am SOOO glad I did not use it as a first name now.

My DS says he knows of loads of baby Rileys. Their mothers all seem to be about 16.

Got lots of those too.

Must be regional - not a single Riley around us. Lots of Williams, Hugos, Sebastians, Quentins and Georges though.
I don't mind the name, quite like it. Like op, am surprised it is in top 10!

There are two in the my ds's class of 14 at a very nice prep school.

All the parents of the Rileys I know are university educated. All have more than one degree in fact. However, they are not people with any sort of roots in any culture/ very bland suburban by choice/ very 'white bread and mayonnaise'/ not likely to live in an integrated or quirky or multicultural neighbourhood. The people who whine at their DD Riley are selling up and moving to a very predictable place where they have already bought another house.

I find it really bizarre that it's in the top ten. Not because of the name itself but There are so many surname type names I'd have thought there would have been a more even spread between them.

BB King's real name is Riley (King). The BB comes from 'Blues Boy'. I know a huge fan of BB king who named his son Riley.

There's far more Noah, theo and isaacs here. Next years list I predict those to be up there

I know a Riley with a twin sister named Sloane - affluent, professional parents who I imagine could afford Eton or Winchester if they were so inclined. Also various other boy and girl Riley's from fairly ordinary, middle-of-the-road MC families.

I think Riley is quite popular in Scotland; I know of a lot of them here. 'Surname'-type first names generally seem to be a lot more ordinary and common here than south of the border.

I know a Riley - it is his Mum's maiden name. They are from the US though so maybe more usual there - though obviously becoming more usual in the UK too! I don't see it as being any different from Ryan.

Well Toby you're wrong.

I don't recall saying I was right

I thought the words "Just my observation, though" might clarify that what I said was merely what I have observed. It seems not, though.

there was a comment in the press from the editor of mother and baby magazine (or some such) saying something along the lines "its a name that descends class - it is the sort of name that will be used by working, middle and upper classes".

Working and middle, yes for sure. But Upper Classes???? I would like to put £100 on their being no Rileys starting at Eton or Winchester in 2024.

There is a Riley in my DS's class at school. He is a lovely boy - a real pleasure to have at home when he comes to play. His parents are very nice too.

Names become popular for a reason - because people like them and use them. Other names die out otherwise we would all be on a baby name forum complaining that our child is known as "Athelstan T" or "Ethelburga D" because there are six of them in their reception class. (With apologies to parents who have used these names).

I also find it hard to understand why people get hung up on using names from the top 10 or even top 100 but I say this as the mother of children with names in the top 10. They were names that we used because we liked them and they had family meaning. As it turns out they are the only ones in their year with those names - not so unusual in a small primary school but quite surprising in a large secondary.

I know at least 2 off the top of my head. Not a fan personally. I dont know why exactly I just dont like it. That said, my own taste in names would be deemed "common" on this site if I'm honest. Oh I also know a girl Riley, spelt Rylee. Yep def not keen.

I know two Rileys (both boys) both of which are 2 years old. For some reason their parents think they chose a really 'unusual, out-there hippy name' . I really hope they've been paying attention to the baby names chart .

Fine as a name, but a bit gullible to think it's unusual. It's been shooting up the charts the last few years.

I know two girls, one called Ryleigh and the other called Reilly though, but have heard of a few other Ryleigh's which I personally don't like as a name as it's the changing the spelling to make it more girly which I dislike. Riley and Reilly are both quite nice surname spellings.

I love the name Riley so much- I think it's popular for a reason! It's vaguely common in our area (does that say something abo where we live?) but I like surname names in general- Quinn, Carter, Hunter, Bryce, Ashton, for example (only like two of the names in that list though).

I'm another one with a Riley but i do regret his name. I had no idea it would ever be popular when we chose it 6 years ago and thought he would be the only one locally.

He's the first Riley in both schools he's attended but there are many more to follow in the younger years.

Its a good name, just too popular.

X-posted!

There was a Riley in Buffy, I loved it but DP Veto-d it. Glad now it's so popular.

Would have used it boy or girl!

It was Buffy's boyfriend. I think that was probably a surname though...